winter storm – The B Square

snowfall amount Screen Shot 2022-02-04 at 5.08.49 PM

2022-02-04 map travel advisory Screen Shot 2022-02-04 at 5.04.20 PM

A pedestrian heads north on Walnut Street south of 17th Street. He was walking in the street, because sidewalks had not been cleared on either side of the street and snow had been plowed from the street onto the sidewalks.

The winter storm that closed down Bloomington and Monroe County government offices on Thursday and Friday left around 5 inches of snow on top of a layer of frozen crud that began falling late on Wednesday.

The National Weather Service snowfall map put Bloomington in the 4-to-6-inch band of snowfall for the storm period. The NWS station-by-station report pegged the amount for Bloomington at 5.5 inches.

The NWS forecast for Bloomington calls for a high of 23 F degrees on Saturday with no additional snowfall. For Sunday, it’s supposed to remain clear with a forecasted high temperature of 37 F.

As of 4:01 p.m on Friday, the travel warning (red level) for Monroe County had been adjusted down to a watch (orange level). [Updated 5:57 p.m. on Feb. 5. The travel status for Monroe County has been adjusted down just an advisory (yellow level), which means routine travel or activities may be restricted in areas because of a hazardous situation, and individuals should use caution or avoid those areas.] Continue reading “[Updated: From orange to yellow] Monroe County after-storm notebook: Travel status goes from red down to orange; Bloomington property owners must clear sidewalks” →

Monroe County is under a travel warning as of 4:50 a.m. Thursday morning. Travel is restricted to emergency management workers.

The image links to the state’s travel advisory map page.

That means you should not be out on the roads unless you are an emergency management worker.

If you are in a dire circumstance (but not a 911 emergency) that makes you believe you need to travel, Monroe County’s emergency management office advises contacting the Indiana State Police or the Monroe County sheriff’s office (812-349-2780).

The National Weather Service has a winter storm warning in place through 1 a.m. on Friday.

[Added at 3 p.m. on Feb. 3, 2022. This just in from from the Monroe County emergency management text alert system: “Due to severe weather and extremely cold temperatures, Monroe County offices will be closed tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022. This includes the courts and prosecutor’s offices. The “red” level travel warning status will remain in effect through the day tomorrow, Feb 4, 2022 until reassessed. This means individuals are directed to refrain from travel as it is unsafe to drive in.”]

[Added 7:04 p.m. on Feb. 3, 2022. City of Bloomington offices will be closed on Friday, Feb. 4, according to the mayor’s office. ]

The total daytime snow accumulation could be from 3 to 7 inches. The NWS forecast for the Bloomington area calls for patchy blowing snow after 1 p.m. with temperatures falling from the current 27 F degrees to around 23 F.

Winds will be out of the north and northeast blowing around 16 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation through the day is 100 percent, according to the forecast.

As of around 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, the temperature was holding at 27 F degrees with sleet falling out of the sky. An accumulation of slushy snow mix was a half inch or more, depending on the location. Continue reading “[Updated: MoCo, Bloomington closed Friday] Don’t travel: Monroe County warning in effect as of 4:50 a.m. Feb. 3, 2022” →