March roared into eastern Nebraska like the proverbial lion Thursday, with heavy snow and strong winds shutting down highways, schools, businesses and airlines.
the Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Wednesday, February 28, 2007 6:00 pm
March roared into eastern Nebraska like the proverbial lion Thursday, with heavy snow and strong winds shutting down highways, schools, businesses and airlines.
The Lincoln airport reported 6.6 inches of snow, and by early afternoon, the Omaha area had received as much as a foot of snow, with winds as high as 58 mph.
All Lincoln-area schools closed, including Lincoln Public Schools, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and all other colleges.
Power outages had left about 5,000 Lincoln Electric Service customers without electricity early Thursday morning. By mid-morning, crews had restored power to almost everyone, but strong winds continued to cause problems for the utility throughout the day.
About 7 a.m. Thursday, the Nebraska State Patrol and Department of Roads declared Interstate 80 from Omaha to Utica closed, along with Nebraska 2 from Nebraska City to Lincoln and U.S. 77 from the Kansas line to Wahoo.
Patrol spokeswoman Deb Collins said the departments needed motorists off the road temporarily so the departments could clear the highways of accidents, slide-offs and jackknifed trucks, then reopen the roads to traffic, including thousands of Nebraskans following their home teams to the State Girls Basketball Tournament in Lincoln.
The Interstate reopened at 3:30 p.m., but travel wasn’t recommended.
“Motorists can expect heavy traffic and dangerous winter driving conditions, with blowing snow and high winds causing reduced visibility,” Collins said.
Troop A Captain Tom Schwarten said there still were lots of stranded and stalled vehicles along the Interstate between Omaha and Lincoln.
Travel conditions remained difficult, he said Thursday afternoon.
“We want to encourage everyone to slow down, and give themselves plenty of time to react to others on the road. The bottom line remains if you don’t have to travel, please don’t,” Schwarten said.
Collins encouraged motorists to travel conditions by dialing 511. The system can also be accessed via the internet at www.nsp.state.ne.us; click on “511 Traveler Information” in the Quick Links box.
The city of Lincoln was to decide by 4:30 Thursday whether to declare a snow emergency, which would ban vehicles from street curbs to help plowing.
Additional information on the city’s snow-clearing plan is available on the City Web site at lincoln.ne.gov and in Windstream phone directories.
Lincoln police dealt with stalled and stuck cars and trucks almost more than accidents.
Capt. Jim Thoms said police were called to 10th and High streets and Northwest 48th and Holdrege, among other locations, about stalled trucks and cars.
“We’re having our share of accidents, too,” he said.
His advice? If you don’t have to go out, don’t. If you do, allow plenty of time.
Thoms said it helped that all the city’s schools have closed.
“The street crews are doing the best they can,” he said. “But it’s snowing, it’s blowing and there’s a sheet of ice under there.”
Blowing snow was hampering efforts to clear streets in Omaha. The city reported that snow plows had to clear major routes often, allowing less time in residential areas.
Omaha businesses were urged to send workers home early to reduce rush-hour traffic.
The storm was expected to taper off around sunset Thursday, with just a few flurries remaining. Heavy winds gusting 35 to 40 mph were expected to continue overnight and Friday.
Among other events, the storm forced the cancellation of the U.S. Navy Band concert, scheduled Thursday at the Lied Center.