Lancaster County Engineer Don Thomas advised rural residents to stay home Thursday, if possible.
The Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Wednesday, February 28, 2007 6:00 pm
Lancaster County Engineer Don Thomas advised rural residents to stay home Thursday, if possible.
He said some main county roads were passable but people who do leave their homes this morning may not be able to get back because of drifting snow and blizzard conditions.
Winds were blowing at 25 to 30 mph this morning and are expected to gust to 40 mph later Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.
“This is the first time I can remember them closing all the (state) roads in and out of Lincoln,” Thomas said.
Coutny road graders were dispatched about 5 a.m. put were called back because whiteouts made it difficult for drivers to see the road. Conditions improved slightly and some truck plows were sent out about an hour later.
Thomas said he was keeping most of his crews off gravel roads for about three hours Thursday morning until conditions improve. He said it makes no sense to send plows out because the snow is wet and would create a ridge on the side of the road.
“That (ridge) acts like a snow fence. When the snow blows across the top, it will be that deep,” Thomas explained.