Those hoping for Athens to see clear sidewalks and sunny skies woke up to a harsh reality Wednesday morning: It's still snowing, and it's still freezing.
According to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office’s website, the area is under a Level 2 snow alert — meaning roadways are hazardous, and only those that feel it’s necessary to drive should brave the streets. The sheriff’s Facebook page is requesting residents call their employer to see if they should report to work.
Ohio University’s Scalia Lab issued a similar statement on their Facebook Wednesday morning, saying that Athenians should be prepared for slippery roads, as the lab is anticipating 1 to 3 inches of snow by the end of the afternoon. The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory until 4 p.m. Wednesday.
On Scalia Lab's Twitter, one tweet read that wind chills are as low as -10 to -20 degrees.
Athens Transit's Twitter tweeted Wednesday morning that it's already run into some snowy problems, stating "We have one Summit bus stuck at top of Summit Hill - bear with us as we try to get the situation resolved."
The cold and snowy weather caused President Roderick McDavis to postpone Wednesday's Distinguished Professor Lecture. Officials have not said when the lecture will be rescheduled, but said a date will be announced "as soon as possible."
@OUTransport also warned on its Twitter that it's Purple Loop would not service McCracken and Jeff Hill, and that its stop will service Morton temporarily Wednesday. Earlier, it tweeted that shuttles should be delayed all day.
Similarly, @UCAthens tweeted that University Courtyard shuttles are unable to stop at the main campus gate, and will be stopping at the Alumni Gate and proceeding "straight down Court Street" instead.
@eockerman
eo300813@ohio.edu
