Area residents got out from under warm blankets this morning to find a cold, wet blanket of snow awaiting them outside.

The snow forced the cancellation of some schools and created hazardous driving conditions.

The Tri-State got anywhere from 2-4 inches of snow late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning. However, the snow changed to rain by 9 a.m., turning snow into slush. Temperatures are expected to fall into the teens tonight, meaning all that precipitation is likely to re-freeze by Thursday morning.

Ohio State Highway Patrol Sgt. Jim Hutton said troopers were busy this morning with approximately 10 accidents, including a head-on collision on State Route 141 near Sugar Creek Christian Academy. One person was reportedly killed in that accident, but authorities could not confirm the fatality as of presstime.

Both Ironton police and Lawrence County sheriff’s deputies reported few weather-related accidents.

Many area school districts began the morning with a school day delay, but the delays were later changed to closures. Among Lawrence County schools, only Ironton City and Catholic schools were in session today.

The rest were closed because of the inclement weather. Green schools in Scioto County were closed because of a water problem. Classes were also canceled at schools in neighboring Kentucky and West Virginia districts.

The weather forecast calls for

periods of snow before 11 a.m. today, then periods of rain and snow, mainly between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. The rain is likely to change back into snow after 4 p.m. The forecasted high temperature will be near 36 degrees. The chance of precipitation is 100 percent. A total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches is possible.

Tonight, there’s a slight chance of snow showers before 9 p.m. with a low around 19 degrees. The chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Thursday, expect mostly sunny skies with a high near 34 degrees.

On Friday, the forecast calls for a slight chance of snow showers between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. with a chance of rain showers later in the day. The high will be near 47 degrees.

By Saturday, the temperatures are expected to rise to near 60 degrees.