Tuesday could only be described as a Snow Day.

School was canceled, but those who ventured outside encountered snow and blowing snow. Wind gusts up to 20 mph made the 3 degree temperature at noon feel like -18, and the Great Bend Police Department activated the Emergency Accident Reporting Plan, allowing motorists in non-injury accidents to exchange information and report the accident later, if no drugs or alcohol were involved and the vehicles could still be driven.

The Barton County Sheriff’s Office was discouraging travel due to the snow. Protected areas, such as those next to shelter belts, were starting to have snow drifts but were still passable by early afternoon. Lt. Brian Bellendir said several vehicles had slid off snow-packed roads in a number of non-injury accidents. One car went off U.S. 56 at the curve east of Dundee, and plowed into a farm building.

With snow blowing and drifting late Tuesday morning, one vehicle rolled onto a fire hydrant at Broadway and McKinley. The hydrant broke and had to be removed. The street department was notified that intersections were getting slick and needed sand.

The National Weather Service predicted Tuesday’s snowfall in the Great Bend area would total about 10 inches. Today should be clear and cold.