Feb 15, 2007 By Josh Krysak 3 min read

Area residents were again contending with snowy weather Wednesday, as the backside of a massive winter storm dumped several inches of snow across the region. The snow followed a steady downpour of ice and freezing rain late Tuesday and early Wednesday that left area motorists struggling to maneuver on icy roads and chipping at ice-coated windshields.

According to the National Weather Service, a winter storm warning remained in effect through 1 p.m. Wednesday.

Forecasters called for dropping temperatures today with wind chill temperatures below zero due to wind gusts in excess of 30 mph but no additional was expected.

Accidents were reported around the region as snowy and icy road conditions led to dozens of fender-benders.

According to Fayette County 911, crashes and weather related problems were reported throughout the day with more than 200 calls flooding the center before 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Susan Kozak-Griffith, Fayette County 911 media liaison, said that in addition to traffic accidents, the center was inundated with reports of people falling, utility wires downed and trees blocking roadways.

Fayette EMS Director Rick Adobato said his ambulance crews also struggled on area roads Wednesday.

“The weather has slowed our response time, especially to the rural area,” Adobato said, noting the biggest hassle for his personnel has been ice, not snow.

“I had one of my guys slip and fall on icy stairs last night but we haven’t had any accidents with the ambulances. It has been rough,” Adobato said.

In Greene County, officials reported no incidents as a result of the snow Wednesday afternoon.

Allegheny Power reported about 4,500 Fayette County residents lost power during the day Wednesday but only about 500 remained without power at 3:30 p.m.

Spokesman Allen Staggers said the largest outage Wednesday afternoon remained in the Lemont Furnace area where about 300 customers were without power.

Additional outages were reported in Smithfield, Fairchance and Lake Lynn, Staggers said.

“The outages are mostly a result of the ice and downed power lines,” Staggers said.

Outages were also reported in the Dunbar area and several traffic lights were out on Route 119 Wednesday afternoon.

Staggers said the power company had pulled nine line-repair crews from outside the region to help troubleshoot outages as the wicked weather continued Wednesday evening.

In Perry Township, Supervisor A.J. Boni said his road crew of four men has been putting in 16-hour days for three straight days trying to stay ahead of the winter weather.

“We’ve been real busy,” Boni said, as he worked clearing snow in the township. “We started at 4 a.m. in the morning and we are running 16 hour days but the snow just keeps coming. But I’ve got a dedicated crew and we will stay at it.”

Road crews around the region were in the same predicament as Boni Wednesday, trying to keep crews on the roads, as steady snow continued even after the National Weather Service storm warning lifted at 1 p.m.

Griffith cautioned area residents that while the storm moved out of the region Wednesday, area residents should still be careful driving and outdoors with frigid temperatures and icy conditions.