WHEELING -- Ohio Valley residents woke up to a blanket of snow this morning and more was in the forecast throughout the day.
The National Weather Service had issued a winter storm warning in West Virginia's Northern Panhandle as far north as West Liberty to as far south as Smithfield. In Ohio, the warning extended from as far north as Tiltonsville to as far south as Antioch and past Zanesville headed west.
Snow accumulation from four to six inches was expected around Wheeling and Moundsville, with six to nine inches expected in Wetzel County.
A winter weather advisory was issued north of those areas, with one to three inches of snow expected. The warning and advisory was issued until 7 p.m. today.
Snow began falling late Sunday night, starting to build up on sidewalks and roads. That snow was forecast to continue in varying degrees of intensity through this evening.
Gov. Jim Justice on Sunday issued a state of emergency for all of West Virginia ahead of the storm. The state of emergency allows state agencies to coordinate ahead of a possible weather event, including pre-positioning personnel, vehicles, equipment and other assets.
Starting Sunday, according to Justice's office, the West Virginia National Guard had started staging personnel and equipment at armories across the state in preparation for the storm. the West Virginia Division of Highways was proactively addressing weather-related challenges to ensure roadways remain passable, and emergency management officials were closely monitoring developments and coordinating efforts.
"All West Virginians should absolutely be prepared for the potential impact this storm may bring," Justice said in a news release. "Our top priority is safety, and we're doing everything we can to stay ahead of the storm. State agencies are on high alert, and we'll continue to monitor the situation closely. I ask all West Virginians to stay alert, follow any instructions from emergency officials, and take necessary precautions. The next few days may bring challenges, so let's all take care of each other."
Marshall County Emergency Management Director Tom Hart echoed Justice's sentiments, saying that helping others was important, especially those who are elderly, those that use home medical equipment and others with special needs. In addition, those that rely on home medical equipment or home medical treatments should make sure to have emergency contact information for their home medical suppliers in the event of a power outage.
By Sunday evening, school districts in Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, Marshall and Wetzel counties had canceled school for today.