Ohio Valley Frozen
By HEATHER ZIEGLER Assistant City EditorArticle Photos
WHEELING —Baby, it’s cold outside and in some cases, inside as well.
A powerful cold front brought high winds into the Ohio Valley on Sunday, knocking out electricity for hundreds of American Electric Power customers.
Emergency warming shelters were opened Sunday in several communities including Wheeling and Shadyside, and were ready if needed in Wellsburg and Colliers, as the frigid temperatures were too much to endure without heat.
Schools in Ohio, Brooke, Marshall and Wetzel counties in West Virginia canceled classes today along with Barnesville and St. Clairsville schools in Ohio. Most all other school districts were on a two-hour delay.
In the case of closures, school officials said even with a two-hour delay, temperatures were expected to be in the single digits with wind chills below zero.
At 9 a.m., it was 7 degrees in Wheeling with a windchill of minus 8 degrees. The blast of winter weather is expected to continue tonight as snow is forecast to move into the area after midnight. Accumulations of 1-3 inches of snow are predicted overnight and into the morning hours on Tuesday. Temperatures today will barely hit the teens while Tuesday’s high is projected to be around 36. The snow will mix with rain during the daylight hours Tuesday.
High winds led to a series of power outages throughout the area Sunday, with about 1,100 homes in Ohio, Marshall and Belmont counties left without power late Sunday and early today.
Paul Prater, community affairs manager for American Electric Power, said most of the approximately 500 outages in Ohio and Marshall counties were expected to be restored by this morning. Prater also said most of the 600 Belmont County outages also were to expect power to return this morning. A check this morning showed most outages had been corrected.
Due to power outages in the Shadyside area, the Belmont County Emergency Management Agency set up a warming center at the Shadyside Methodist Church at 3838 Lincoln Ave., and in Ohio County, the Salvation Army accommodated about 50 people who needed to get in out of the cold.
Prater said the outages were due to high winds that knocked down several trees throughout the area.
The cold weather also caused problems of a different sort for Northwood Health Systems facilities located Ohio Valley Medical Center in Wheeling. Water pipes broke and sent water pouring out into the street early Sunday afternoon. The facility was restored to normal operations after the Wheeling Fire Department arrived to assist. Northwood was back in operation for today’s appointments.
Firefighters also responded to Booker T. Washington Apartments on Chapline Street in Wheeling on Sunday when wind knocked some roofing insulation off the building. The roof was not damaged, but the flying debris was a concern.
Towngate Theatre in Center Wheeling had to cancel its 2 p.m. Sunday movie matinee because of a power outage.
Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack canceled its live greyhound racing today due to cold temperatures. The regular live racing schedule will resume on Wednesday with a 1 p.m. posttime. Wheeling Island’s other gaming operations including 2,000 slot machines, 43 table games, 20-table poker room, hotel accommodations and six restaurants remain open and operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
And for ski enthusiasts, Oglebay’s ski slopes were expected to open at noon today with plenty of snowpack. Skiing will continue until 9 p.m. today.
