Kosciusko County is under a local disaster emergency again today, prohibiting most travel on county roads. County commissioners signed the order this morning, citing heavy snowfall overnight Tuesday. About half a foot of snow had fallen by this morning, leaving many stuck at home and making travel difficult for emergency vehicles. The order bars all travel on county roadways except to and from and in the performance of work, and for emergency response purposes. County government offices are closed today, as well as Warsaw and Winona Lake government. Also closed today are all local school corporations, including Warsaw, Wawasee and Tippecanoe Valley, and services such as the YMCA, the Bowen Center and the Beaman Home’s Basic Needs Center. The Beaman Home Shelter itself will remain open, according to Director Tracie Hodson. Most counties across Indiana are similarly asking people to restrict their travel and many schools, universities and government offices in the state have closed for the day or delayed their openings, the Associated Press reports. Crashes caused police to close several sections of major highways at various times, including parts of Interstate 65 north of Lafayette and south of Indianapolis, I-164 near Evansville and I-74 in southeastern Indiana. The National Weather Service reports about 7 inches of snow in Indianapolis and Terre Haute, with more than 8 inches in Fort Wayne. The heaviest snowfall reported has been nearly 10 inches in southwestern Indiana’s Parke County, according to the Associated Press. The NWS said snow this morning will transition to snow showers this afternoon with a high of 24 degrees. Winds from the north were expected to blow at 20 to 30 mph, causing drifting and poor visibility. Additional snow accumulations of less than an inch were expected. Tonight will be cloudy and bitterly cold with wind chills approaching –10 degrees.
