Post The
VOLUME 115, ISSUE 17
Ohio police departments can now charge for body camera footage PG. 2 President Donald Trump sworn into power PG. 4 OU, Athens celebrate MLK Day PG. 7
WINTER-FERENCE IN ATHENS
JANUARY 21, 2025
THEPOSTATHENS.COM
Heavy snow, cold weather hit Athens
Athens County received a total snowfall of 8-12 inches depending on the area between Jan. 5-7. Although the snow is not predicted to return, cold weather continues to affect OU students and Athens residents. DREW HOFFMASTER NEWS STAFF WRITER Athens County received a total snowfall of 8-12 inches depending on the area between Jan. 5-7. The snow was caused by a low-pressure system, especially a mid-latitude cyclone over the Rocky Mountains. This was formed by a cold front from Canada colliding with a warm front carried by a jet stream from the South. “Our jet stream is a lot more fluctuating right now,” James Zinnbauer, the webmaster from Scalia Laboratory, said. “When we have troughs that bring down The snow on College Green, Ohio University, Jan. 15, 2025. (TALITHA MALOY | FOR THE POST) cold air and ridges that push up warmer air, down and people should only be out in charge of shoveling and salting the that’s going to be strong temperature for emergencies or have a job that sidewalks on their property. contrast will generate a lot of (snow).” permits it. In an Ohio Snow Removal Public The cyclone was then blown east. “The last level three, Service Announcement posted by the The northeastern part of a cyclone the snow wouldn’t let up, City of Athens, the city emphasized typically has precipitation, and we just couldn’t get the importance of property owners which is the part that the roads to where we felt and their residences determining passes over the Mid-Ohio they were safe enough to have peo- who should shovel the sidewalks on Valley causing the snow. ple driving the roads,” Smith said. their properties. “The interactions bePeople can check the Athens CounAt Ohio University, most of the tween troughs and ridges might ty Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook, Instasnow removal is done by facilities be somewhere in a transition zone gram, website or app for snow emermanagement’s ground staff. The where you have a lot of moisture, gencies. Athens residents can also staff uses mechanical equipment to cold air, all kinds of interacting,” check their radio or news stations. remove snow from sidewalks and Zinnbauer said. “We could see low “We just want to give you the best building entrances. pressure develop in this region and snapshot of what the roadways look The custodial staff also helps by recould be snow for some parts of the like by putting out these snow levels,” moving snow from the sidewalks and United States, Smith said. “It’s just really for the stairs which cannot be reached with depending on where it is.” community to be safe and know what equipment. The different shops that Due to all of the snow, the snow levels are, and we just want makeup OU’s maintenance Rodney Smith, the Sheriff of the to get that information out as quickly and operations also Athens County Sheriff’s Ofas we can to the people.” sometimes help by dofice, issued a level three The city is in charge of plowing and ing smaller assignments snow emergency Jan. 5 at salting if needed while residents are and hand work. 11:20 p.m. The levels are determined by the deputies from the Athens County Sheriff’s Office out patrolling. Level one means snow is on the road and to be cautious while level two means there is even more snow and to stay off the roads unless necessary. Level three snow emergencies can only be determined after a discussion between Smith, the supervisor of the Ohio Department of Transportation and the county engineer. This level means everything should be shut Weather forecast provided by Scalia Lab
“When we get a really heavy snow, like what we had a week ago, (maintenance and operations) pitch in and help,” Steve Mack, the executive director of facilities management, said. “They will take care of doing some of that hand work. It’s a group effort, but it is facilities management that takes care of it.” The status of the university being open is determined by the President’s Office. Facilities management, however, is consulted on this decision. It is also important for facilities management to prepare for snow. Mack said when they know Athens will receive a large amount of snow, they have workers come in early and salt if the weather conditions permit. “We try to make sure the campus is ready to start receiving people at about 7:30 in the morning if we’re open,” Mack said. “If we’re in a closed status … that’s a little bit of a different process as well. It all just kind of depends on the situation we’re in. When we are not in session, we have a lot more time to address it.” With two months of winter still left, Zinnbauer thinks it will be very variable throughout the remainder of January into February. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we had several more cold snaps and kind of warm blasts throughout the season and plenty more precipitation,” Zinnbauer said. As of Sunday, Scalia Laboratory predicts mostly cloudy weather for the next six days with Thursday being mostly sunny and Sunday bringing possible snow. Tuesday and Wednesday will have lows below zero degrees, Thursday will have a single-digit low and Friday through Sunday the low will reach double digits. @DREWHJOURNALIST DH384223@OHIO.EDU