Apart from the snowball fights on the University campus and a few little snowmen positioned upright on campus walls, the snowy weather resulted in a an unexpected event that sent a chilling effect across the city.
According to the National Weather Service website, nearly 0.59 inches of frozen precipitation fell in a 24-hour period between Monday and Tuesday, which closed schools and caused numerous accidents and delays for commuters on the road.
Kathleen Allison, a management assistant for the Eugene School District 4J, said the snowy conditions forced the closure of schools across the city and prompted the cancellation of after-school and evening student activities.
“Snow and ice have caused hazardous driving conditions, and the school has been canceled to ensure student safety,” an informational bulletin said on the School District 4J’s Web site.   
Lane Community College also closed both its Eugene and Cottage Grove campuses for the day and later closed its Florence campus at 4 p.m. yesterday “due to continued unsafe driving conditions,” according to the college’s website.
The inclement weather also snarled bus services for several hours as the Lane Transit District struggled to get the routes back on schedule, LTD spokesperson Andy Vobora said. Although no injuries were reported, Vobora also said several bus routes were disrupted by accidents on the road and by snow detours that put many of the buses behind schedule.
“Things were running pretty far behind until midday, so things were pretty hectic this morning,” Vobora said. “I think it was a little bit of a challenge for everybody to get around. Today seemed to be a little bit more significant just because the snow really iced over as the sun came up, so it became more of an icy sort of situation than traditional kind of packed snow, which is much easier to navigate around in.”
Despite the other school closures in Eugene, University spokesperson Phil Weiler said the University remained open Tuesday.
“We need to make sure that we keep the boilers running, that the food is made and that the residence halls are staffed,” Weiler said. “High schools and grade schools are able to without as much consequence, but here, we have a tendency to stay open.”
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