The first day of the second month of the year gave students in Lawrence County an unexpected vacation day as early morning snow covered the Tri-State.

All county schools were closed on Friday and the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office issued a Level 1 Snow Emergency at 12:15 a.m.

A level 1 means that the roadways are hazardous with blowing and drifting snow. Roads may also be icy and motorists are advised to drive with care.

Morning commuters reported a car was flipped over off the side on the berm at Mont Miller on U.S. 52 and two other cars had skidded off the roadway at the Solida Road exit.

The snowfall started about 10 p.m. with the heaviest snow between midnight and 3 a.m., according to meteorologist John Victory of the National Weather Service in Charleston, W.Va. Total accumulation was 2 to 3 inches across the Interstate 64 corridor.

“Other than a few passing flurries we will see sunshine and extremely cold temperatures,” Victory said. “The high has already been reached at midnight at 32 degree and will be going down by midnight. We will be struggling to recover.”

The Lawrence County Engineer’s garage began clearing roads early morning starting with its 12 snow routes in the heavily traveled roadways first typically from Ohio River heading north.

“We had crews go out at 5 a.m. treating the roads,” County Engineer Doug Cade. “The difficulty we will have today is the low temperatures. When the temperature is below 20 degrees, salt is not as effective as when it is above 25 degrees. We put out salt and sand mixture to help with traction.”

The blast of cold wintry weather following spring-like days earlier in the week is due to the jet stream.

“It is very changeable,” Victory said. “It has been moving back and across North America and is now dipping down.”

Another clipper system is expected over the weekend bringing more snow to hit on Saturday night into Sunday with projected accumulations between 3 to 5 inches.

“Then we will have a heavy pressure system moving in,” Victory said. “That is normally fair weather.”