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Power, road crews ready for Round 2 of snow

Forecast calls for more freezing temps, another batch of snow, then wind gusts

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By Josh Sweigart, Staff Writer Updated 7:32 AM Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Liz Hartford keeps her hands in her pockets whenever she can. Last weekend, she clipped the fingertips off her right glove to make it easier to work the register.

“I’m ready for spring,” she said as another car pulled into Minnick Drive Thru on Hamilton’s West Side, where she works in all weather.

Today, Feb. 9, she won’t be any warmer or drier. Freezing weather is forecast today and Wednesday, with up to 8 inches of snow this week.

Just after midnight, the first snowflakes started to fall as part of a storm that was expected to bring an inch or 2 of snow overnight, followed by another couple of inches today. After a small reprieve this afternoon, flurries will likely return, said meteorologist Don Hughes of the National Weather Service in Wilmington.

The highs today will be in the low 30s with lows around 15 degrees. Wednesday, highs are forecast in the mid-20s, though strong winds with gusts up to 35 mph are expected to complicate things, Hughes said.

Duke Energy spokeswoman Sally Thelen said local utilities will keep an eye on the wind, hoping snow-laden tree limbs don’t topple power lines.

“We’re prepared, and we’ll be ready for anything that comes our way,” Thelen said.

Hughes said this week’s storm isn’t expected to be any worse than last weekend’s.

Road crews are tuning up their trucks and preparing to head back out.

“We’ve still got a couple of large trucks that are broken down, but we’re working on those right now. They should be ready to go,” said Middletown Public Works Supervisor Ron Phelps.

The city has about 1,500 tons of salt stockpiled. “We’ve got plenty. Enough salt for this storm, plus 800 tons they’re supposed to start delivering (today),” Phelps said.

Bob Sutton, Hamilton street and sewer superintendent, said the city has about 800 tons of salt in the barns, and a shipment of 700 more tons expected today.

Sutton said the snow is expected to come slow and steady. “(That) helps us as far as making the roads so people can drive on them,” he said.

Hartford said she expects a rush of customers once the flakes starts to fall. Last weekend, nonstop work helped keep her warm. What were they buying? “The staples,” she said. “Beer, cigarettes, milk, bread.”

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