Winter storm: Are you ready for the season’s first all-day snow?

Credit: HANDOUT

Credit: HANDOUT

The season’s first all-day snow event could pack as much precipitation as the area has had in several years.

What you need to know:

Snowfall is expected to start around sunrise and steadily fall through the day until sunset, according to WHIO Chief Meteorologist McCall Vrydaghs.

Snowfall totals are expected to be 4 to 7 inches along the Ohio/Indiana border, 4 to 6 inches in Dayton and south, 3 to 5 inches in the northern Miami Valley.

“I do anticipate it’s going to pick up as we get toward mid-day, early afternoon,” Vrydaghs said. “At that point, we should start to see some enhanced bands of snowfall taking place, which is going to increase the snowfall rate and increase our potential for snow totals.”

Refreeze on the roads will be an issue tonight and through Monday morning.

“Those side streets, they’re not going to get cleaned up as much as the main roads. They are going to be battling that, and it still could be an issue on Monday morning,” Vrydaghs said.

Snowfall is expected to start around sunrise and continue until sunset. Snowfall totals are expected to be higher south of Dayton — from 3 to 5 inches to the south and 1 to 3 inches north of the Gem City.

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What kind of snow will this be?

The type of snow expected could be good for snowball fights and building snowmen. With temperatures near freezing, heavier snow is expected to fall mainly in the afternoon, but at times it may mix with rain or freezing rain, according to WHIO Meteorologist Jesse Maag.

Are local road crews ready?

Road crews in some communities were pre-treating thoroughfares in advance of the storm. Workers for the Ohio Department of Transportation were on notice to report to work early this morning, according to Mandy Dillon, District 7 spokeswoman. District 7 includes Montgomery, Clark, Miami and Darke counties.

“Our employees are monitoring the weather. We have crews coming in at 3 a.m. unless we need them earlier,” Dillon said Friday.

The salt barns are full in the seven counties within ODOT’s District 8, which includes Greene, Warren, Butler and Preble counties. District 8 started the season with 58,405 tons of salt and currently have about 52,172 tons of salt, according to spokesman Brian Cunningham.

Winter Safety Awareness: How does salt help icy roads?

When was the last time we got this much snow?

It’s been awhile since we’ve seen significant snowfall in the region, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington. The last time Dayton saw more than 3 inches of snow on a single day was on Dec. 29, 2017, when we had 3.3 inches; the last time Dayton saw more than 4 inches was March 1, 2015, when we saw 4.5 inches; and the last time we saw more than 5 inches was Jan. 2, 2014, when we saw 5.2 inches, according to NWS.

How do I stay safe?

Winter weather advisories and warnings will go into effect early Saturday morning and will remain until Sunday morning for Montgomery, Greene, Clark, Preble, Darke, Butler, Warren and other counties in the region.

Ready.gov offered these tips to be safe during a winter storm:

— Stay indoors and off the roads;

— Dress warmly if you do go out;

— Prepare for power outages, and if you use generators, use them outside only and away from windows;

— Listen for emergency information and alerts, and

— Check on neighbors.

Going sledding? You'll want to read these safety recommendations

How do I get the latest updates?

Hear WHIO Radio Storm Center updates all day and night on AM 1290 and News 95.7 WHIO. Watch News Center 7 Saturday from 6 to 7 a.m., 8 to 10 a.m. and noon. Visit daytondailynews.com.

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