Wayne and surrounding counties are under a Winter Storm Warning beginning at 12 a.m. Wednesday, and several organizations have announced changes to their regular schedules. Heavy snow is forecast during Wednesday morning’s commute, and roads could be slick on Thursday morning as well after melted snow freezes overnight.
Here’s information about plans for treating the roads, details on a new temporary overnight shelter, and what cancellations have been announced so far. This page will be updated as more information becomes available.
Cancellations, postponements, announcements
- Animal Care Alliance: Closed Wednesday. Surgeries will be rescheduled as soon as a date is available.
- Centerville Public Library: Closed Wednesday.
- Chili for Charity: The event previously scheduled from 5:30-7 p.m. Jan. 25 is being postponed until the following Wednesday, Feb. 1, and will remain at Morrrisson-Reeves Library. Restaurants will provide unlimited samples of their chili for $10 per person while supplies last. Tickets (cash only) sold at the door. Proceeds benefit area non-profit, education and arts organizations.
- Community Christian School: Closed Wednesday. Students will participate in e-learning. Teachers either sent home e-learning work for their students or will have something posted on students’ Google Classroom.
- Cope Environmental Center: All Wednesday events are canceled.
- Earlham College: The Richmond campus will be closed Wednesday. Classes will take place online.
- Excel Center Richmond: closed Wednesday.
- Fountain City: Town office is closed Wednesday. Those with a water emergency are to call the cell number at the bottom of the town’s homepage. Residents should have all trash cans pulled back away from the street. Those who can park somewhere other than the street are asked to do so.
- Hand-in-Hand Adult Day Center of Richmond will be closed Wednesday.
- Hagerstown Public Library: closed Wednesday.
- Nettle Creek Schools will be closed Wednesday, which will not be an eLearning day. Feb. 20 will be used as the make-up day. Tuesday evening’s activities, practices and events will proceed as scheduled.
- Northeastern Wayne Schools: Northeastern will run a synchronous learning day on Wednesday. Students in grades K-12 will need to log in to their Zoom sessions at 9 a.m. The preschool and campus are closed.
- Reid Health: Reid Patient Financial Services will open at noon Wednesday instead of its normal time, and Reid Health will not utilize volunteers Wednesday.
- Richmond Community Schools: RCS will be closed Wednesday. Students in preschool through eighth grade will NOT report to school. However, Richmond High School students will follow their regular live, synchronous learning schedule.
- Richmond Friends School: closed Wednesday.
- Seton Catholic High School: closed Wednesday.
- Western Wayne Schools: WWS will use an eLearning day Wednesday. All student classwork will be posted by 9:00 a.m. Teacher office hours will be 9-11 AM and 1-3 PM. During this time, teachers will be available to answer student and parent questions as they arise.
Forecast and road treatment plans
Indiana Department of Transportation is preparing for a winter storm expected to impact the state starting overnight Tuesday and early Wednesday.
National Weather Service (NWS) has issued winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories for all of Indiana. NWS is calling for rain transitioning to snow south of I-70, with higher snow totals along and north of I-70. Snowfall rates of up to one inch per hour are possible at times.
INDOT will be at a full call in most areas, with nearly 1,000 trucks treating and plowing state highways, interstates and U.S. routes by early Wednesday.
Rain and wintry mix are expected to begin late Tuesday into early Wednesday across southern Indiana, transitioning to snow across the state by mid-day. Because of rain in some parts of the state, pre-treatment will be challenging, but will occur as conditions allow.
Morning and evening commutes on Wednesday are expected to be impacted.
Those who must travel should expect to encounter slush and snow-covered roads, as well as low visibility.
Snow showers will linger through Thursday. Drivers should remember to slow down, increase following distance, give plow trucks room to work and allow plenty of extra time to reach their destinations.
Monitor real-time travel conditions and view traffic and snow plow cameras online at 511in.org or via INDOT’s TrafficWise app. Regular updates will also be shared on INDOT’s social media channels. Check for travel advisories in your area at in.gov/dhs/traveladvisory.
Richmond Mayor Dave Snow said the city’s street crew also is preparing for the incoming storm. He said heavy rain will be in the front end of the storm and prevent pre-treatment because rain will wash away the material and waste it. City employees will wait for some accumulation to begin, then start plowing.
Overnight shelter
Area residents have been collaborating to offer a new overnight warming area for those who need to get out of the elements. It will be located in Unveiled Church at 721 E. Main St. in Richmond, starting at 9 p.m. Tuesday. Cots and snacks will be available in the former Veach’s Imagination Station store.
The warming station will be open through 10 a.m. Wednesday. It will reopen at 9 p.m. Wednesday and be open through 10 a.m. Thursday.
Those interested in volunteering are asked to call 765-396-0050 or share their contact information on a form.