Winter Storm hits Northwest Indiana

By: Max Larson

Posted: 11/20/08

Winter weather hit Northwest Indiana early last week, dumping more than a foot of lake-effect snow on the area.

The storms last Tuesday and Thursday left many local school systems with delays and slowed morning and afternoon traffic to a near halt in parts of La Porte and Michigan City.

La Porte County faces difficulties this season with severe weather, especially with the early start, as a national salt shortage has left them with no new salt to purchase this winter. About 20,000 pounds of salt remain in custody of the county from seasons past and officials are saying that they will be using a mixture of the salt and sand to put down on roadways.

The city of La Porte was a bit more fortunate as they were able to purchase some new salt for the season. The city said that, as in years past, they will be salting only intersections and railroad tracks in order to conserve the salt through the winter.

Students found some difficulties getting to and from class at PNC during the futile weather, some even skipping class altogether for those days.

Andrea Amidei, Social Work major, said that she usually doesn't have a problem with the snow unless it makes it hard for her to drive.

"I live forty miles away and it took me over an hour to get home," she said.

Although the weather has been rather violent and the temperatures bitter, forecasts for the area are calling for a warm-up for the long Thanksgiving weekend.