Residents get chance to dig out

Forecast calls for break in snow today and most of Tuesday

By LEE BEACH

H&N Staff Writer

February 4, 2008

Bill Wood, a member with the Congregational Church-United Church of Christ at 2154 Garden Ave. in Klamath Falls, volunteers his time Saturday to clear snow from the church’s roof.

   Residents spent Sunday digging out after three days of winter storms dropped more than a foot of new snow on the Klamath Basin. 

   A break in the snow gave snowplow crews a chance to clear roads. Several highways and rural roads remained closed or impassable Sunday afternoon. 

   The National Weather Service predicted another break today and most of Tuesday. 

   “There (may be) a few spritzes here and there,” said Jim Bunker, hydrometeorological technician for the National Weather Ser vice. “ Tuesday will be mostly cloudy, then on Tuesday night, there will be a slight chance of snow.” 

   Only two of about 50 Basin observers called in Saturday’s snowfall, with Keno reporting 8 to 12 inches and Bonanza about 8 inches. The Crater Lake ranger station reported 14 inches in 24 hours. 

   At Kingsley Field, a weather observer recorded 20 inches of snow on the ground. 

   Main arteries open 

   City road crews were making headway clearing roads after a heavy snowfall Saturday and early Sunday. 

   “We’re working on the main arteries, and roads to the hospitals and schools are open,” said Chuck Cox, city street supervisor. 

   Working all night 

   At 10:30 a.m. Sunday, he had been on the job 27 hours. He sent half the crew home to rest, and the remaining crew continued working, with the help of 14 private contractors. 

   “We’re pulling everything up and will be working all night to get ready for Monday morning,” he said. “It will take three to four days to clear residential streets.” 

   Clearing those areas is made more difficult by residents parking on the street because they can’t get into their driveways. 

   Cox said snow was being dumped at a large area at the sewage treatment plant and at the airport’s snow storage area, and later on, it will be taken to an area at Marina 3. 

   Lakeview 

   Rick DuMilieu, roadmaster for Lake County, said Sunday about three fourths of the county roads were cleared or had at least one lane open. 

   “Some residents stayed with friends because they couldn’t get home. I take it personal, because I worry about people being stranded,” he said. 

   He compared the snow depth to the winter of 1992-93, but said the wind was stronger than he has ever seen, causing deep drifts.

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