Storm Packs Wallop
The massive storm affecting over two dozen states and impacting the lives of over two million Americans arrived in eastern Ohio a little later than originally anticipated.
Snow began to fall by midnight resulting in five inches on the ground by daybreak.
But according to local weatherman Murray Stafford, the weather was predicted to worsen throughout the day. At 7:30 a.m., he posted “the heaviest snow is just now beginning in Ohio. Over the next 24 hours, most locations in Ohio will receive an additional 6 to 12 inches on top of what has already fallen”.
All area counties were under Level Two Snow Emergency until Sunday when Level Three Emergencies were declared by Guernsey County Sheriff Jeffrey D. Paden and Belmont County Sheriff James Zusack.
While some businesses took precautionary moves in advance of the storm, Barnesville Livestock owner, Darryl Watson, took the unusual move of canceling the weekly Saturday auction.
Others, including the Ohio Hills Health Centers, WVU Medicine Barnesville Hospital’s clinics and Barnesville Vision Center, announced they would not open on Monday.
By mid-afternoon Sunday most local school districts had already announced classes were canceled Monday.
It is likely classes will not resume Tuesday either.
Road crews were out as soon as the storm dropped enough snow to plow off the roadway, while most residents heeded the call and were sheltering at home until the storm passes.
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