Here are the latest winter storm updates for Stark County
The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory from 3 a.m. this morning to 3 p.m. for much of northern Ohio, including Stark County.
Forecasters expect 2 to 4 inches of snow that will transition to a wintry mix and then rain, accumulations of ice to a light glaze, possible slippery roads that could impact commutes and winds gusting up to 30 mph. Up to an inch of snow may fall an hour late this morning.
The weather service says a general snowfall of 3 to 4 inches is expected across northern Ohio through Wednesday afternoon. Greater snowfall totals of some 8 inches are expected in Toledo where it will be all snow. More snow is expected Thursday into Friday with as much as 4 inches of additional snow possible.
Motorists are urged to slow down and be cautious while driving.
U.S. Route 30, State Route 93 closed due to crash
Lawrence Township police are asking motorists to avoid state Route 93 near state Route 21. The roadway is closed from Route 21 to Weygandt Street due to a traffic crash and downed power lines.
Several other emergency responders are out at reports of motor vehicle crashes across Stark County.
U.S. Route 30 is closed west of Minerva near Woodale Avenue SE. Emergency personnel were called to a report of a multi-vehicle accident. At least 10 vehicles were involved. Officials on the scene said the roadway was icy and several other vehicles had gone off the roadway into a waterway while they tried to clear the first crash. It is unclear if anyone was injured in the crashes.
Officials asked the Ohio Department of Transportation to salt the roadway as several vehicles and a tractor-trailer were stuck on a hill.
What warnings and emergencies are in effect?
The weather service on Tuesday issued a winter storm warning for extreme western Ohio and a winter weather advisory for all of northern Ohio.
Wednesday morning, Summit County Sheriff Kandy Fatheree issued a Level 1 snow emergency advisory.
Snow emergency levels: What they mean as the Ohio winter trudges along
When will the snow end?
The snow is expected to start around 3 a.m. Wednesday morning and continue through the morning hours. It is expected to switch over to a wintery mix by the afternoon and then rain through the evening. By 2 a.m. Thursday morning, it switches back over to snow. The weather service says snow showers are expected Thursday and continuing through Friday.
— Canton City Schools (@CCS_District) January 25, 2023
Are Canton City Schools closed today? Stark County closings
School closings in Stark County began rolling in just after 5 a.m. Wednesday with several rural districts being the first to announce the day off.
Tuslaw Local Schools began sending notices to parents around 5:15 this morning via texts and telephone calls.
In a text to parents, officials said the district schools were closed Wednesday due to the snow-covered and icy roads.
Other districts began announcing on social media, their decision to close, including Canton City, Jackson and Alliance City Schools. Also closed are Heritage Christian, Canton City Day Schools and other private schools.
Some districts also have canceled extracurricular activities, while others such as Plain Local Schools advise students and parents to check the district's website for cancellation of other activities.
Check this link for the latest on school closings in the Canton area.
Parking bans in place in Stark County
Several Stark County jurisdictions Tuesday announced bans on parking vehicles on their streets that might block snowplow drivers.
Plain Township: Parking on township streets is banned from midnight to 7 p.m. Wednesday. "This ban is for the safety of our plow drivers, safety services/first responders and the traveling public. This will also increase the plow driver's ability to clear the roads at a faster pace. Residents shall park cars in driveways off roadways. Any vehicles that are found in violation of this parking ban may be ticketed or towed by the Plain Township/Stark County Sheriff’s Deputies," according to a statement issued by the township's highway superintendent J.P. Neff.
Jackson Township: Parking on township streets banned from 2 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Perry Township: Parking on township streets banned from midnight to 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Massillon: Parks and Recreation Department's aquatic center will not open until 10:30 a.m.
Lake Township: Parking on township streets banned from 8 a.m. Wednesday to 8 a.m. Friday.
Canton Township: Parking ban on township streets from 6 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 24 to 6 p.m. Thursday. Any vehicles in violation may be towed.
Lawrence Township: Parking ban on township streets began 10 p.m. Tuesday. No end time was provided.
Osnaburg Township: Township street parking ban from 1 a.m. Wednesday to 8 a.m. Thursday. The township road department asks residents to remove portable basketball hoops from roads.
How long will the warnings last?
The winter weather advisory for northern Ohio is set to lift at 3 p.m. Wednesday.
Power outages in Stark County
There are no power outages in Stark County as of 8:24 a.m. Wednesday, according to AEP and FirstEnergy. In Summit County, there are fewer than five outages, all in Green, and zero outages in Stark, Medina, Portage and Wayne counties.
Ohio Edison power outages can be reported online or by calling 888-544-4877.
First Energy: Map of power outages in Akron area
AEP: Canton-area power outages map
Akron-Canton and Cleveland Hopkins airport status
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and Akron-Canton Airport are operating close to normal, according to their websites.
The Cleveland airport has one delayed departing flight — a 6:30 a.m. Southwest flight to Chicago (528), delayed from 6:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. — and three canceled departing flights: an 11:25 a.m. Southwest flight to Chicago (1887), a 3:25 p.m. Southwest flight to Chicago (536) and a 4:15 p.m. Air Canada flight to Toronto (8736). The Cleveland airport also has no delayed arriving flights listed and three canceled arriving flights: a 10:45 a.m. Southwest flight from Chicago (532), a 2:45 p.m. Southwest flight from Chicago (534) and a 3:37 p.m. Air Canada flight from Toronto (8733). The Akron airport has one delayed departing flight, a 6:21 a.m. American Airlines flight to Charlotte (5495), and no delayed arriving flights.
CAK: Current arrival and departure information
CLE: Current arrival and department information
Includes reporting by the Akron Beacon Journal and Massillon Independent staff writer Amy Knapp.
Reach Robert at robert.wang@cantonrep.com. Twitter: @rwangREP
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Winter weather update for Canton, Massillon, Alliance, Stark County
