T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA Elizabeth and Collin Smigle push Barrett Smigle down their hill on a sled during the storm that caused Belmont County to be placed under a Level 2 snow emergency Monday.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE – As the snow came down Monday, most children in Belmont County received an extra day of holiday vacation and motorists were subject to slippery roads and treacherous commutes.

Several Belmont County businesses, including the Ohio Valley Mall, either did not open Monday or closed their doors early due to the wintry weather.

On Sunday evening, the National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for the entire county and much of Eastern Ohio. The warning was in effect until 7 p.m. Monday and informed drivers to plan on slippery road conditions, adding that hazardous conditions were likely to impact the Monday morning and evening commutes.

The Belmont County Sheriff’s Office declared that Belmont County roads were under a Level 2 snow emergency, meaning roads were hazardous with blowing and drifting snow. People were advised not to travel unless it was necessary to do so and urged to contact their employers to find out whether to report to work.

It was the first day on the job for Sheriff James Zusack, who took over the position from the retiring David Lucas. Zusack said the storm led to an interesting first day on the job and that he believed the Level 2 designation would remain in effect until at least this morning.

“The roads are continuingly getting covered, and ODOT (Ohio Department of Transportation) is still out there in full force. They’re trying to keep up with it, and they’re doing their best,” he said.

He added that the Level 2 allows snow plows to have more room to do their job because it keeps traffic at a minimum.

“I look at it like this – when you can see the pavement and it’s clear and the traffic’s flowing a little better – and the accidents decrease – is when it’ll be lowered or canceled,” Zusack said regarding the snow emergency. “I’d probably guess we’ll be on Level 2 until (Tuesday) morning.”

Once the snow hit early Monday, ODOT drivers dispatched 25 snowplows to treat Belmont County roads. ODOT District 11 Public Information Officer Lauren Borell said that around 8 a.m. Monday was when the bulk of the snow occurred.

“Into the morning commute time we were definitely seeing some snow-covered roads. I-470 was covered at some points of the early morning, but by daybreak snow was breaking up on the roads and our crews were getting it plowed off,” she said. “By mid morning we were in good shape.”

She added that since the July completion of the Interstate 470 microsurfacing project where I-470 and Interstate 70 meet east of St. Clairsville, she has not received any reports of incidents on that specific stretch of road.

Meanwhile, Ohio State Highway Patrol Lt. Brian McFarland said that during the early morning Monday, the patrol received reports of five single-vehicle accidents on local highways.

“We’ve handled a handful of crashes,” McFarland said. “The road conditions were poor, but people need to slow down when the weather’s bad like this.”

He added that none of the morning wrecks resulted in any injuries or fatalities.

McFarland said that one of the accidents involved a commercial vehicle jackknifing on I-470 eastbound, resulting in traffic delays for people commuting to work.

A patrol dispatcher confirmed Monday evening that an additional tractor-trailer had jackknifed on I-470 during the afternoon Monday but said no accidents were being reported during the evening hours.

McFarland reminded drivers to be on the lookout for snow plows clearing the roads.

“If you see snow plows out, give them the distance to do their job,” McFarland said.

Borell added that since the start of the winter season, ODOT has had 13 of its snowplows struck by vehicles statewide.

“We’ve had none in our area, but we are constantly reminding folks that when they see our trucks to please give them plenty of room to work,” Borell said. “These are very big and heavy trucks and they don’t stop easily, which is why it’s so important to give yourself plenty of stopping distance between motorists and our trucks.”

She added that if someone needs to pass a snowplow, they should do so cautiously.

“That number, 13, is 100% preventable and four of the 13 have happened in the last 24 hours,” Borell said Monday.

She added that although the bulk of the snowfall had ended by late Monday, drivers should still be alert and look for black ice on bridges and roadways.

“It’s important for folks to watch for any refreeze on the roadways, especially on bridges and overpasses,” Borell said.

Businesses such as Sam’s Club at the Ohio Valley Plaza and Lenscrafters and Oil and Gas Safety Supply at the mall announced via social media that they would not open in an effort to keep staff and potential customers safe. The mall itself announced on Facebook that it would close at 5 p.m. rather than the usual 9 p.m. The St. Clairsville Public Library remained closed on Monday, and Belmont County Senior Services suspended all services, including meal delivery.

The storm’s impact was not limited to Belmont County. The entire Ohio Valley got its first real taste of winter weather this season on Monday, as the huge snowstorm passed through the region, bringing snow – in greater volume in some areas than others – to everyone in the region. The farther south the storm touched, the more people had to dig themselves out. While the Weirton-Steubenville area received about an inch of snow, that total climbed past 4 inches in Belmont, Ohio and Marshall counties, then grew to about half a foot in Wetzel and Tyler counties.

Meteorologist Jared Rackley of the National Weather Service’s Pittsburgh office said Monday that the total 4-5 inches of snow that fell in Ohio and Marshall counties was “a bit lower” than the anticipated snowfall in the area but “not that far off” from predictions of 4-6 inches made Sunday.

“The storm shifting further to the south did lower totals across the area a little bit,” Rackley said on Monday. “Yesterday we were looking at whether the storm would shift north or south for our predictions. Our predictions from Saturday were maybe an inch lower than what was forecast (on Monday) since the storm shifted south.”

Rackley said another half inch of snow could be expected in the area on Monday evening in addition to the snowfall that began on Sunday night.