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UPDATED 12/13/10 1:49 p.m.
GARY, Ind. (CBS) -- The snow, ice and wind will not be a daylong nuisance in Northwest Indiana Monday, after already causing serious damage and forcing commuters to abandon their cars.
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CBS 2's Mike Puccinelli was whipped in the face by blowing snow as he stood near Interstate 94 in Lake Station, Ind. The burning sensation can become painful in a matter of minutes.
Driving conditions in Porter and LaPorte counties were still dangerous as of midday Monday. Newsradio 780's Bart Shore reported. State Road 2 and U.S. 30 remain closed due to heavy snow and wind. Many secondary roads, especially east-west routes, are impassable due to drifting, according to the State Police. All Interstates are open.
Indiana State Police Sgt. Ann Wojas said since midnight Saturday night, there had been 90 crashes and 70 slide-offs, as well as numerous push-outs in which someone must help push a car back onto a road.
Overall, conditions during the day Monday had improved overnight. Earlier, Indiana State Police had to rescue occupants of about 80 vehicles who had been trapped in their cars in biting temperatures in the snow-covered region. Drifts had piled up to heights of 6 feet.
LaPorte County sheriff's Deputy Andy Hynek said some got stuck for as long as 12 hours.
Hynek says authorities were having a hard time reaching motorists as snow plows struggled with the high drifts and roadways that were clogged with nearly 100 abandoned cars.
A winter storm warning remained in effect for several Indiana counties. The warning expired at 6 a.m. Monday for Lake County, but continues until noon for Porter County, and until midnight Tuesday night for LaPorte and St. Joseph counties.
Porter and Newton counties have both declared a state of emergency. State police are encouraging motorists to stay home.
The storm system was dumping 1 to 3 inches of snow per hour early Monday, and CBS 2's Megan Glaros says snow totals could top out at more than 20 inches.
The snow, combined with the wind and extreme cold, made for dangerous conditions on the roads.
Snow drifts forced the shutdown of State Road 2 from Porter to Lake counties and Route 30 from east of Valparaiso to the LaPorte county line.
The State Department of Natural Resources has been out delivering fuel to motorists who have run out as a result of being stranded.
Later Monday morning n Highway 20 near Gary and on Route 12 in Portage, the lake-effect snow was affecting conditions mightily, as drivers were forced to ride their brakes in order to stay on the snow-covered roads. At times, it seemed like the proverbial heel-toe express might be the safest way to get around.
CBS 2 caught up with Jim Skish, out for a walk in Ogden Dunes. He has lived in the area for about the past five or six years.
"I haven't seen it this bad, but I've heard it's been worse," Skish said.
The wind-tossed waves were more than 25 feet high at times, and were powerful enough to destroy a new stairwell, which had straight posts until the storm moved in. Elsewhere, a flagpole was leaning precariously, due to the powerful gusts off the lake.
On the beaches, the sand was completely frozen as if it were tundra. A metal pole from a fence was blown over and frozen in place.
The beach grass was covered in ice, and almost looked like frozen seaweed. A bench and viewing area also took on an icy beauty, as icicles hung almost like decorative garlic. The bench itself, encrusted in 3 inches of solid ice, almost seemed kind of inviting in its solid state – until one sat down.
CBS 2's Mike Puccinelli, WBBM and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
