It’s rare that meteorologists here correctly employ just about every word in their winter weather lexicon in the same sentence when presenting a forecast. They did just that prior to the past weekend’s weather. Their predictions for rain, sleet, snow, freezing rain, ice, cold winds and frigid temperatures came true. The result: Many area residents were inconvenienced and tested and their homes battered by the vagaries of Mother Nature.
Starting Friday afternoon, heavy snow showers pelted the area,. Streets became slippery, and many area schools, businesses and government agencies closed early. Thousands immediately took to increasingly treacherous roads. Many did not make it their destinations for hours — or at all.
Despite preparatory efforts by city, county and state crews, some roads — particularly in hilly or mountainous terrain or on bridges and overpasses — became difficult to navigate. That prompted warnings from officials to stay off the roads, followed by announcements of closures. The timely warnings and announcements served a useful purpose.
Not too long after nightfall Friday, roads were mostly empty, though stragglers were still trying to reach home. Others elected to not make the effort. Hotels and motels downtown and near Interstate highway exits filled up. Continuing precipitation — particularly in the upper elevations where ice quickly coated everything — made a bad situation even worse.
Before the weather system exited the area, nearly 5 inches of mixed precipitation was recorded here by the Weather Service. Amounts as high has 8 inches were reported in surrounding areas, with heavy accumulations of ice noted in places. The latter proved disastrous.