Wednesday's snow storm in the Shenandoah Valley began shortly before noon after sleet and freezing rain had iced trees and grassy areas earlier in the day. Snow fell fast and heavy at a rate of one- to-two inches an hour as highway crews tried to keep roadways cleared and interstates open. The Waynesboro News Virginian described it as "a blast of rain and snow [that] created the dreaded “wintry mix.”

In Augusta County, 10 inches of snow covered the ground by early evening amid reports of electrical outages caused by sagging tree limbs weighted down by the heavy, wet precipitation. Wrecks on I-81 and I-64 as well as secondary roads kept emergency personnel busy while some businesses closed early and a number of meetings and activities were cancelled for the evening. Some companies remained closed Thursday or had delayed openings.

Schools in the Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta County areas were closed on Wednesday after waking to icy conditions and predicted snow, and remained closed on Thursday while Valley colleges opened late. Back roads were thawing Thursday afternoon as temperatures rose to the mid-30s.

The Augusta County Board of Supervisors meeting, scheduled for Wednesday night, was postponed until Thursday after difficult driving conditions caused authorities to ask drivers to stay off the roads except in emergencies.

This was the storm many had waited for after several earlier snows brought less amounts of the white stuff, leaving winter athletes longing for more. All area ski resorts including Wintergreen, Massanutten, Bryce, Snowshoe, and the Homestead were open for business for skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and Apres-ski.

The long-term weather forecasts suggest there may be more snow before winter is over in Virginia and the Atlantic Seaboard.