Snowfall prompts closures around region

(Graphic Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)
PARKERSBURG — Area organizations either closed or shut down early Tuesday in anticipation of inclement weather moving through the valley.
The Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department posted on its social media page early Tuesday morning saying its offices would be closed due to impending weather. The Mid-Ohio Valley Chamber of Commerce posted on its social media page it would be closing offices at 2:30 p.m. and reopening at 9 a.m. weather permitting.
Some organizations moved events to another day in anticipation of the weather. The Kootaga District Buckskin Council Awards Dinner scheduled for Tuesday night was rescheduled to 6 p.m. Thursday at the Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church.
Wood County Schools announced on its social media site that Monday night classes were canceled.
“We were watching the weather yesterday when it changed to a warning,” Superintendent Christie Willis said about the National Weather Service in Charleston issuing a winter storm warning around 9 p.m. Monday.
The Weather Service said it expected “some hazardous travel conditions across much of the area, with both the morning and evening commutes being impacted. Consider delaying non-essential travel if you can”.
Willis said this impacted the school system’s decision to close school for the day.
“They were saying we were getting snow around 10 a.m. and we were very concerned about dismissal and getting the kids home safely. So we erred on the side of caution,” Willis said.
Snow showers are in forecast, according to the Weather Service.
“We can expect snow showers to continue for the rest of the evening, with potential mixing and freezing rain overnight,” Meteorologist Levi Cornett said. “(Wednesday) we’ll see a lull in the morning, followed by heavy rain in the evening, with rainfall amounts around 0.22 inches overnight.”
According to Cornett, the forecast also indicates the possibility of lingering showers on Thursday, with Friday expected to be mostly dry. However, a larger system is anticipated for Saturday, potentially bringing over an inch of rain to some areas.
Cornett said of particular concern is the potential for a flash freeze event on Sunday night into Monday.
“Slick roads are definitely possible today and tonight…a widespread flash freeze can be possible Sunday night into Monday,” Cornett said.
Temperatures are expected to significantly drop, with highs on Sunday around 40 and lows on Monday in the teens, setting the stage for hazardous driving conditions.