Dayton’s sub-zero temperatures bring beauty and woe

Sub-zero temperatures are not fun for most, but the deeply cold weather can also bring out natural beauty that takes shape in interesting ways.

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On Tuesday morning as the sun rose over the Dayton skyline, steam rose from parts of the Great Miami River that were not frozen – creating a foreboding yet artful riverscape.

A stiff wind cast a chill close to 24 degrees below zero through the area, making any outdoor activity dangerous for those not prepared.

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Frozen pipes, cars that will not start and school cancellations were all part of the woes of sub-zero weather on Tuesday, but the crews who repair broken water mains under the streets have a particularly tough job.

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Workers from the City of Dayton Water Distribution department worked all day on Tuesday to repair a broken water line on Edwin C. Moses Boulevard. With water gushing from cracks in the pavement, the crew had to direct traffic, set up orange cones to allow for heavy equipment to be used, profusely salt the roadway to keep the water from creating a skating rink, dig down to the pipe, repair it, refill the hole in the road and patch it – while enduring a wind chill in double-digit negatives.

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Montgomery County has reported 36 water main breaks since Friday, 18 of which are still active repairs.

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