MANSFIELD, Ohio — North Central Ohio residents are preparing to deal with sleet and ice as this week's massive winter storm continues to push across the state.
As of 8 pm, Richland and Ashland counties continued to observe a steady light rainfall as communities to their west dealt with snow.
Meteorologists expect the rain to transition to sleet, snow, and possibly ice in the Mansfield area overnight.
The Ohio Department of Transportation District 3, which serves North Central Ohio, currently has plows out patrolling the area. The agency says its crews will work 12-16 hours shifts in an effort to keep roads clear.
There were no power outages along the I-71 corridor or in the general North Central Ohio area as of 8 pm, according to local utility company Ohio Edison.
Ohio Edison spokesperson Lauren Siburkis said the company will not know what to expect when it comes to power outages until the storm transitions to sleet and snow in the area.
Siburkis pointed out the region did not experience many outages after a recent storm dumped more than a foot of snow on the area. However, she added an accumulation of a half-inch of ice on power lines has resulted in outages in the past.
A trooper with the Ohio State Highway Patrol's Mansfield Patrol Post in Richland County says they have only seen a few minor accidents, so far, in the area. However, the trooper does not believe they were weather-related. He added it seems locals have gotten the message to stay off the roads during the impending storm.
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