UPDATED: Delmarva Blizzard Update – Friday
Friday, 6:30am – The snow has ended – now the digging out begins. Snow plows have been out since the snow began falling working to clear the roads, however with the high winds, the snow is drifting back onto the roads that were just cleared. While primary roads are passable – secondary roads and most neighborhoods are in poor condition. Roads are icy and breaking is difficult. DelDOT crews continue to plow throughout the state.
We remain under a State of Emergency for Sussex County and a Level 2 driving restriction – so no one, except essential personnel, should be on the roads. If you go out and get stuck – you make it that much more difficult for the plows to do their job. You also become a problem for emergency responders. With the State of Emergency declaration, the Delaware National Guard has been activated and is assisting Sussex County, fire companies and EMS, and Delaware State Police.
A State of Emergency remains in place for the Lower Shore counties of Maryland as well. Both Delaware Governor John Carney and Maryland Governor Larry Hogan advise drivers to stay off the roads and let the plow drivers do their job.
We also have extremely cold temperatures to deal with and with the winds – it feels like the temps are below 0.
The amount of snow is hard to measure because of the winds and the drifted snow. However the DEOS Snow Conditions from UD shows these amounts:
Sussex Snow Totals –
Stockley/Georgetown – 11.4 inches
Dagsboro – 10.8 inches
Lewes – 10 inches
Nassau – 9.1 inches
Laurel – 8.2 inches
Bethany Beach – 6.8 inches
Ellendale – 5 inches
Seaford – 4.8 inches
Bridgeville – 4.1 inches
Other –
Harrington – 5.3 inches
Woodside – 5 inches
http://www.deos.udel.edu/odd-divas/snow_current.php
=================================================
We remain under a blizzard warning throughout Delmarva as the storm begins to move away from our area. However even as storm moves off Delmarva, we will still have strong winds which will push any plowed snow back onto the roads and sidewalks – and on roads that are sided by open fields.
Governor John Carney has issued a State of Emergency for Sussex County and a Level 2 Driving Warning statewide
With the State of Emergency declaration and the Level 2 Driving Warning, the Delaware National Guard has been activated and is assisting Sussex County, fire companies and EMS, and Delaware State Police. High winds continue to blow snow onto already cleared roads, so motorists should watch for sudden drifts.
Governor John Carney, DelDOT, and the Delaware State Police advise caution for those motorists in Kent and Sussex Counties as road conditions in some areas may be hazardous.
Millsboro’s Police Chief reports a record of stranded vehicles on the roads. Early this morning a tractor trailer overtuned on Route 113 just south of Route 9.
In Sussex County, DelDOT is advising residents that this will be a prolonged clean up event due to the high winds, drifting snow, and extremely cold temperatures. DelDOT will continue to focus its efforts on plowing primary roads.
While Kent and New Castle Counties have seen lesser snow accumulations, high winds and drifting snow are still a hazard and motorists should be cautious of icy conditions due to the below freezing temperatures.
DelDOT snow plows remain active in plowing and treating primary roadways.
In Maryland a State of Emergency is in effect for the Lower Shore counties.
As of noon today, the Maryland State Police has responded to 86 crashes, 146 disabled vehicles calls and 534 calls for service. The lower Eastern Shore is the area most heavily impacted by the winter weather. Also, the snow emergency plan remains in effect for 12 Maryland counties: Charles, Dorchester, Talbot, Caroline, Queen Anne’s, Kent, Calvert, St. Mary’s, Wicomico, Worcester, Somerset and Garrett. Continue to be cautious if you venture out today.
