Slippery Trip

Just returned from 2 nights in Columbus attending a state technology conference. Did 2 presentations today - one on the program we use for our teacher websites and the other on using technology during levy campaigns. Both sessions went well - not heavily attended but I'll blame the weather for that.

It was a worthwhile trip only complicated by the weather that rolled in today. The trip home usually takes 2 hours but today it was 4 1/2 - with lots of cars off the road - even a few semis jack-knifed luckily in the other direction. Nice to have the 4-wheel drive and the snow tires and fairly decent winter driving experience. Harkened back to the old days.

School was canceled today and already for tomorrow. Even Oberlin College is closed tomorrow and that rarely happens. Nicki and I have a Valentines Day together - good timing. I've already used our snowblower to remove the bulk of the snow from ours and Norma's driveways. But with the gusts I bet they will fill in tonight. East coast people - you are warned - it's coming. Here's our forecast:

A MAJOR WINTER STORM IS ONGOING ACROSS THE REGION...AND WILL CONTINUE INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING. SNOW WILL REMAIN HEAVY OVERNIGHT. SNOWFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR ARE POSSIBLE.

ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 6 INCHES...WITH LOCALLY HEAVIER AMOUNTS...CAN BE EXPECTED FROM LATE THIS EVENING THROUGH DAYBREAK WEDNESDAY. STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 8 TO 16 INCHES ARE LIKELY BY THE TIME SNOW ENDS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

NORTHEAST WINDS WILL GUST TO NEAR 35 MPH AT TIMES CREATING CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WITH NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS AT TIMES. WIND CHILLS WILL ALSO DROP TO 10 BELOW TONIGHT.