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Like much of the southeast, the Rockbridge area was hit with heavy snow beginning Wednesday afternoon continuing into Thursday. The storm closed local schools and businesses and forced cancellation of many events.
Snow depths ranged from six to 12 inches throughout the region.
Fire and Rescue Chief Ty Dickerson said there have been no major accidents in the area. A Toyota overturned on Link Road around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday because of the snow, but there were no injuries. However, one death from a car crash has been confirmed in Central Virginia.
All public elementary, middle and high schools in Lexington, Buena Vista and Rockbridge County were closed Thursday, as well as Virginia Military Institute and Washington and Lee University.
An Emergency Operations Center opened at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Lexington. Nearly everything in town was closed or operating on limited hours.
“The question is what’s open?” Dickerson said.
According to Lexington’s website, the 13 stores still open on Thursday are: CVS, Lexington Prescription Center, Kroger, Food Lion, Sheetz, Stop-In, Rockbridge Farmers Coop, Rockbridge Auto Parts, Wendy’s, Arby’s, McDonald’s, Pronto and Domino’s.
City Financial Director Gary Swink said the city helps pay for snow shoveling and plowing, but he doesn’t believe the budget will be hurt too much by this snowfall.
“We plan for snow, so I think we’ve built into our budget the adequate amount,” Swink said.
Swink lives in Rockbridge County and said he hasn’t seen this much snow since 2009.
W&L students showed their school pride and made a trident in the snow. Photo courtesy of Randl Dent.
W&L students Randl Dent and Sara Korash-Schiff show off their snowwoman. Photo courtesy of Randl Dent.
The W&L campus coated in snow early Thursday morning. Photo by Sara Korash-Schiff.
W&L Sigma Nu members wrestle in the snow. Photo by Sara Korash-Schiff.
Snow ball fight anyone? Photo by Sara Korash-Schiff.
Oh the joys of making snow angels. Photo by Sara Korash-Schiff.
W&L junior Randl Dent spent part of her snow day building a snowwoman. Photo by Sara Korash-Schiff.
Do you want to build a snowman? W&L junior Sarah Scaffidi did. Photo by Sara Korash-Schiff.
Main Street in Lexington was clear early Thursday afternoon. Photo by Logan Hendrix.
Sidewalks were pretty treacherous Thursday during the storm. Photo by Logan Hendrix.
Bulldozers were out Thursday clearing the street. Photo by Logan Hendrix.
Snowplows worked throughout the night to salt and plow roads. This morning, even side roads like Randolph Street are looking pretty clear. Photo by Maggie Voelzke.
Lexington residents are dealing with the aftermath of last night’s storm. Photo by Maggie Voelzke.
Lee Chapel covered in snow. Photo by Randl Dent.
A snowy Woods Creek. Photo by Hendley Badcock.
The W&L amphitheater is so covered in snow it looks like a hill instead of stairs. Photo by Hendley Badcock.
A W&L student-owned wood cabin looks peaceful in the snow. Photo by Olivia Hampton.
The view from Houston Street. Photo by Evelyn Rupert.
Inches of snow covered porches throughout the Rockbridge area Thursday morning. Photo by Evelyn Rupert.
W&L students attempt to help their friend free his car from the snow. Photo by Sara Korash-Schiff.
Many inches of snow had already fallen early Thursday. Photo by Logan Hendrix.
Bad road conditions stranded a truck on Houston Street. The truck had to be towed. Photo by Evelyn Rupert.
Dozens of cars are buried under snow after the winter storm. Photo by Olivia Hampton.
Reid Hall on the W&L campus in all its snowy glory. Photo by Sara Korash-Schiff.
The W&L campus was already coated in snow Wednesday evening. Photo by Sara Korash-Schiff.
