A pedestrian struggles to walk along South Main Street in downtown South Bend Wednesday. Tribune Photo/MARCUS MARTER
Story Created:
Dec 10, 2009 at 8:13 AM EDT
Story Updated:
Dec 10, 2009 at 10:58 PM EDT
Wind, snow and numbing cold are causing school closings, travel problems — and the potential for dangerous subzero wind chills through Thursday night.
A winter storm warning remains in effect for Berrien, Cass and St. Joseph counties in Michigan until 7 p.m. EST, according to the National Weather Service.
An additional 1 to 3 inches of snow is expected, with some amounts higher. But winds of 20 to 30 mph will continue to cause blowing and drifting snow, reducing visibility and making travel treacherous with some whiteout conditions likely.
Van Buren County remains under a blizzard warning until 4 p.m. EST. Slightly higher snowfall amounts of at least to 2 to 4 inches are expected, with winds gusting up to 40 mph.
All travel is discouraged, but drivers along U.S. 131, in particular, are likely to be affected.
Interstate 94 travel is difficult, with the westbound lanes closed entirely in Berrien County. Sgt. Ken High at the Bridgman post said three different crashes, each involving two semi-trucks, have brought traffic to a halt.
The crash at mile marker 27 also involves a fuel spill crews are working to clean up. High said they've seen numerous crashes but so far, no serious injuries.
“Unless it’s an absolute emergency do not go out, especially on I-94," High told SBT24/7 News. " We are having whiteout conditions (and) numerous slide-offs because of weather-related issues.”
There are some reports of semi-trucks having difficulty getting traction near Mattawan, too, as they tried to get up the interstate's hill on the slick surface.
South Shore commuters also experienced delays because of the cold temperatures. Train 106 experienced mechanical difficulties and switch problems hampered Train 108. When the trains became stalled near Miller Beach, passengers were transferred to trains traveling behind them.
Delays of about 20 to 30 minutes occurred, with similar minor delays expected throughout the day.
Power outages are also likely, and residents are urged to prepare for the possibility.
Power outages reported by Indiana Michigan Power Thursday morning were in St. Joseph County, where nearly 1,800 Indiana residents were in the dark, according to the company Web site. Most power was restored by 9 a.m., but about 280 still were offline.
NIPSCO's Web site reported more than 500 customers were powerless in Culver, with scattered outages reported in places like Goshen, LaPorte and Michigan City.
And the cold remains a hazard as well.
Across the region, temperatures had dipped into the single digits by early morning, with a 6 a.m. temperature of 6 degrees and a wind chill of minus 15 recorded at South Bend Regional Airport.
Subzero wind chills are expected into Thursday night. Very cold air extends to the west, as well, with wind chill advisories issued for Illinois and Wisconsin, west as far as Montana and Colorado.
Frostbite and hypothermia are a concern when wind chills become this frigid, and residents should be prepared for the elements if they plan to go out or must be outdoors.
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What is frostbite?
Damage to body tissue that's being frozen. Fingers, toes, and ear lobes are among the especially vulnerable body parts, which will appear white or pale with a diminished sense of feeling. Severe frostbite requires immediate medical attention.
What is hypothermia?
Hypothermia happens when the body's temperature drops below 95 degrees. Some signs include fatigue, confusion, slurred speech and shivering. For mild cases, where the body temperature is still above 90 degrees, be sure to prevent further heat loss, move to a warm place and stay dry. Rewarm from the body core first, and then seek medical attention.
For a severe case in which the victim is already unconscious, seek medical help immediately and try to prevent more heat loss.
Source: Michigan Committee for Severe Weather Awareness
