×

Cold temperatures, another dusting of snow in forecast for the Mid-Ohio Valley

A snow plow in Washington County clears Klinger Road Saturday morning after another snow storm blanketed the area with several more inches. The National Weather Service in Charleston forecasts a 30% chance of flurries this morning. (Photo by Art Smith)

PARKERSBURG — The area dug out of another few inches of snowfall over the weekend as the area braces for colder temperatures this week.

After around a foot of snow blanketed the Mid-Ohio Valley last week, the National Weather Service in Charleston reported Sunday the area received another few inches from a storm system that moved through the area Friday night and into Saturday morning, said Meteorologist Simone Lewis.

“The Parkersburg-Wood County area got between 2½ to 3½ inches,” she said, adding many of their reports said there was around 3 inches in Washington County.

Lewis said there is a small chance of snow today with a small system moving through the area.

“It is very weak, and there is not a lot of moisture with it,” Lewis said. “(The area) might get some periods of drizzle or freezing drizzle or maybe some snow flurries (today).”

Lilly and Brooklyn Welsch sled down the hill behind the Belpre Masonic Lodge on Sunday after the area dug out of another 2-3 inches of snow that hit the area Friday into Saturday morning. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

She said another quick-moving system will come through the area on Tuesday which is expected to bring some light snow to the area with less than an inch of accumulation anticipated.

Another quick-moving system is expected on Thursday with some light snow.

“There are a couple of different chances this week for light snow showers,” Lewis said. “Nothing is looking to be too impactful or too significant in terms of accumulation.

“Most of them look like they are going to produce around an inch of snow, maybe less.”

Road crews were prepared for the snowfall that came Friday and Saturday. Many area roadways were cleared off by Sunday afternoon.

Colton Stump goes down the snow-covered hill on an inflatable behind the Belpre Masonic Lodge on Sunday as kids and others enjoyed being out in the snow after the area received another 2-3 inches of snowfall Friday into Saturday. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

Parkersburg Mayor Tom Joyce said the first teams of workers got started on snow removal from the new snowfall at around 9:30 p.m. Friday with the second crew starting at 5:30 a.m. on Saturday.

“(Crews) had some plow and spreader issues that were repaired quickly,” Joyce said.

The main routes in town have been passable since late Friday/early Saturday.

“Conditions have improved steadily the past 24 hours with sunshine and warming temperatures,” Joyce said Sunday.

The mayor said the public works director will give him an update on the city’s salt supplies Monday or Tuesday to gauge preparedness moving forward.

Chloe Stump starts down the snow-covered hill on an inflatable behind the Belpre Masonic Lodge on Sunday as many got out and enjoyed the snow after the area received another 2-3 inches of snowfall Friday into Saturday. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

Wood County Sheriff Rick Woodyard said nothing significant happened as a result of the snow Friday and Saturday.

“It was managed pretty well,” he said. “I think the roads are now in decent shape and people are traveling pretty well on them.”

Washington County Engineer Roger Wright said they had road crews out around 4 a.m. on Saturday as Washington County was again placed on a Level 3 snow emergency which helped keep most traffic off of area roads so crews could work.

“We got out there and spent the whole day Saturday cleaning up,” he said Sunday afternoon. “It is in good shape.

“The highway crews have done a really good job.

A four-wheeler pulls tubers on the snow-covered Miller Road Saturday near Waterford. The group was taking advantage of several inches of new snow and sleighed down a nearby hillside. (Photo by Art Smith)

“We are proud of the effort they put in and had it all cleaned up. We worked to get everything cleaned up as quickly as we can.”

Belpre Mayor Susan Abdella said by Sunday the roads around town were “in pretty good shape.”

“The guys did great and worked all day (Saturday),” Abdella said. “We are ready (for the coming week).

“We are as cleaned off as we are going to be.”

Belpre Police Chief Mike Stump said law enforcement responded to a number of vehicles going off the roadways during snow Friday afternoon/evening and into Saturday.

“We have had some treacherous roadways, but our road crews have been doing a really good job of it,” Stump said. “We ask people that when a Level 3 is issued that they stay off the roadways so crews can get out and get everything cleared and make it safe for people to travel.”

With some melting during the day and freezing temperatures expected at night there could still be slick spots people need to be prepared for.

“We ask people to slow down and proceed with caution and drive in a way the weather conditions dictate,” Stump said. “There are still going to be areas that are slicker than normal.

“Pay attention to any ODOT or law enforcement advisories on weather and drive with due care and caution.”

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office downgraded the snow advisory to a Level 1 on Sunday with hazardous roadway conditions with blowing and drifting snow and icy conditions in place.

The Marietta detachment of Ohio State Highway Patrol had 13 crashes reported Saturday, according to a dispatcher. Many involved vehicles sliding off the roads and resulted in little to no damage, she said.

She credits the low number with the county being on a Level 3 snow advisory during the storm, with many people staying at home and not going out.

Lewis said it is expected to get colder this coming week.

Today is expected to be similar to Sunday which saw a low of around 27. The highs today are expected to reach into the mid-30s. However, systems coming in the rest of the week are expected to bring lower temperatures, like single digits to around 10 degrees early Tuesday.

“During the day on Tuesday you are looking at temperatures in the lower-20s at best,” Lewis said. “Wednesday morning is actually looking to be the coldest with temperatures that morning expecting to reach very close to zero.

“The high that day is looking to be in the upper teens or lower 20s.”

Wednesday night the low is expected to be around 5 degrees.

The temperatures are expected to rise to the upper 30s to lower 40s by Saturday with the possibility of rain that could turn to snow by Sunday.

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com

Starting at $2.99/week.

Subscribe Today