City personnel worked against inclement conditions to get the roads cleared Monday as the snow poured down onto Huntington.

Bryan Chambers, director of communications said city workers, began salting the roads with two plow trucks around 5:30 a.m. and were utilizing all six trucks by 7 a.m.

“We were using salt until 1 p.m. and then we stopped throwing [it] down,” Chambers said. “Quite frankly it wasn’t doing anything. Salt only has a minimal effect in 20 degree weather.”

Chambers said the snow accumulated approximately one inch per hour, resulting in the decision to cease salting and rely on the snowplows only.

Two of the city’s six plows, however, broke down during the snowstorm. Chambers said they were being repaired and will be in order by Tuesday morning.

“We are fighting a losing battle right now,” Chambers said. “It’s coming down one inch per hour. It’s going to get colder as the sun goes down.”

Chambers said the city is responsible for 197 miles of roadway within the city while the state is responsible for clearing the interstate and multiple high-traffic roads in Huntington.

“[The state] maintains about 26 miles within the city,” Chambers said. “That includes Fifth Avenue, Third Avenue, Veterans Memorial Boulevard, Fifth Street, Eighth Avenue and parts of Eighth Street.”

Local schools and colleges, including Marshall University, closed their campuses due to the inclement weather.

“We were fortunate that Cabell and Wayne counties made the decisions early to close,” Chambers said. “Marshall closed at 10 a.m. today, and that was a good thing. From the looks of it, seems like most people have listened to the warning.”

Chambers said the State of the City address will not be postponed due to the weather. Those who are unable to attend can catch it on SuperTalk 94.1 or AM930.

Chambers urged citizens of Huntington to take further precautions in the snowy conditions.

“Stay off the roadways unless there’s an emergency,” Chambers said. “Check on your neighbors, especially elderly neighbors, make sure pets are inside and out of the cold [and] use common sense.”

The snow is expected to taper off Tuesday, with Monday’s nighttime snow accumulation reaching 1 to 3 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

Tuesday’s forecast includes a high of 24 degrees with a chance of snow showers Tuesday evening and throughout the day Wednesday.

A Hazardous Weather Outlook and Winter Storm Warning will be in effect until 5 a.m. Tuesday morning for the Huntington area, portions of Southeast Ohio and Central West Virginia.

Lexi Browning can be contacted at [email protected].