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More Snow Today, But A Warmer Weekend On The Way

According to the National Weather Service, the Ohio Valley can expect around another inch and a half of snow Thursday and warmer temps this weekend, followed by more cold.

So far, more than five inches of snow have fallen in the Wheeling area since the storms started last week, with three or four remaining on the ground due to the cold. Other areas further south have seen even more snow.

This is the 13th coldest weather on record in the period from Dec. 1 to Jan. 14 in the state in the past 77 years, National Weather Service meteorologists said. However despite the mild winters of more recent years, the amount of snowfall this season is closer to what is considered a “normal” winter in the Ohio Valley area.

While there will be some melting with warmer temps potentially reaching 40 degrees Fahrenheit over the weekend, some of the snow on the ground will be compacted down. This means some snow will remain until temperatures rise for a longer period, allowing for more melting.

Despite the back-to-back snowfalls, city workers have been working hard day and night to keep up with salting and plowing the roads, said Wheeling Operations Superintendent Steve Johnston.

The biggest hurdle during this bout of winter weather has been challenges with distribution of materials like road salt, as it has been difficult to find truckers willing and able to make the deliveries recently despite there being enough supply. The drivers that are on the road are working long hours and very appreciated, Johnston said.

The operations department has had to adapt quickly to the various weather conditions Wheeling has seen lately, like mixing in cinder materials on Tuesday night because the salt alone was not enough to combat the snow and ice during the very cold temperatures.

Tuesday night’s dusting was unexpected, making it a bit more challenging, Johnston said. However the city had six crews out working on the roads and they were able to clear and salt them.

Johnston commended the city crews that have been working overtime to combat the icy conditions and make sure Wheeling’s roads are safe for drivers.

According to a release from the West Virginia Department of Highways, crews statewide are also working quickly to fill potholes caused by the pattern of freezing and thawing that occurs during the cold weather season. WVDOH is prioritizing primary roads first, followed by secondary roads.

“If there are potholes that are dangerous or damaging vehicles, we will then prioritize that to a higher level and get those completed and fixed first,” read a statement from Joe Pack, Chief Engineer of Operations in the release.

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