MIAMI VALLEY -- The winter storm that pounded the Miam Valley on Friday and Saturday has moved on and now people around the region are digging out of as much as 2 feet of snow in some areas.

3:45 p.m. Update:
Roadways are returning to normal across the Miami Valley. Road cres have been out for more than 48 hours clearing the roads and putting down salt. The sun has been a big help on Sunday, allowing the snow to melt on the roads.

Despite having a Blizzard Warning issued, this winter storm was far from being considered a blizzard. The National Weather Service issued the Blizzard Warning due to the extreme blowing and drifting snow that occured Friday night and into Saturday.

Sunday, March 9, 2008
9:30 a.m. Update
A winter storm this weekend has left up to 17 inches of snow in some parts of the Miami Valley. Roadways will remain snow-covered until road crews can get to all of the streets and clear them. There are a few local counties that remain under snow emergencies.

Many people will be spending Sunday digging out.

Danielle Elias Reports On Snowfall In Washington Twp.
Anton Day Reports On Snow Cleanup Efforts

6:38 p.m. Update:
Remember to move your clocks foward one hour before you go to bed. Despite a foot of snow outside, it is spring forward at 2:00 a.m.

6:23 p.m. Update:
News Center 7 crews say I-70 in Clark County is open. Earlier, it was closed for 4 hours after 5 semi-trucks and a car collided in a chain reaction crash. 4 people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Traffic was backed up for miles, all the way to Springfield. Motorists in that back-up were stranded in their cars. Emergency workers tried to check on them and provided blankets.

3:05 p.m. Update:
Local sheriff's departments are asking you not to go out on the roads unless it is absolutely necessary. If you live in an area under a level 3 snow emergency, you are not to travel at all. Storm Center 7 Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek says the storm is winding down and snowfalls should end later this afternoon. Gusty winds will continue so blowing snow will still be a problem this afternoon and tonight. Rich says most areas of the Miami Valley have a foot or more of snow.

12:02 a.m. Update
Dayton International Airport reports that 40 flights are cancelled and more will be cancelled this afternoon. Call your airline before heading to the airport.

11:43 a.m. Update
Authorities report a multiple vehicle crash on I-70 westbound between I-675 and State Route 235. A News Center 7 crew on the scene says the accident involves 5 semi trucks and a car. There were no serious injuries. Traffic is backed up to Springfield and officials said the highway will be closed for several hours.

11:05 a.m. Update
Fire officials are asking News Center 7 viewers to give them some extra help. If you have a fire hydrant in your front yard, they're asking if you can make sure you clear the area around it as you would your own driveway. This will allow them to quickly spot hydrants should they need them in an emergency.

11:00 a.m. Update:
Another crash reported on I-70 westbound at Route 235. Traffic is backed up 6 to 7 miles. Also, traffic is backed up 2 miles, all the way to I-675, at an accident on I-70 eastbound in Springfield.

10:30 a.m. Update:
On eastbound Route 35, a salt truck lost control and hit a retaining wall. Police said this shows just how dangerous driving conditions are right now. Also, I-70 eastbound at State Route 35 in Springfield remains closed at this hour because of a crash.

10:15 a.m. Update:
The University of Dayton Basketball Game has not been cancelled. However, you can watch the game on WHIO-TV at 2 p.m.

9:45 a.m. Update:
A single car crash was reported on I-70 Eastbound in Springfield, shutting down the highway there.

9:10 a.m. Update:
News Center 7 has learned that all state high school girl's basketball games have been cancelled today.

8:55 a.m. Update:
Authorities in Dayton said a semi jackknifed around 6 a.m. Saturday and leaked diesel fuel on to the highway. They said a hazmat team was called in to help clean up the spill. Police said the highway is closed between Salem Avenue, Main Street and First Street.

March 8, 2008 Saturday
8:15 a.m. Update
Blowing and drifting snow are contributing to major problems all across the region. Travel is very hazardous on local highways and county roads.

Storm Center 7 Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek said that there have been reports of more than 10 inches of snow in some parts of the Miami Valley. He said some viewers have reported more than 2 foot snow drifts becusse of the blowing and drifting snow, which is also creating near whiteout conditions.

In Huber Heights
News Center 7's Jill Del Greco is in Huber Heights this morning and said road conditions are not good there. She said that a snow plow slid off the road early Saturday morning and landed on its side. The crash happened in the 5300 block of Kitridge Road near the Dayton and Huber Heights line.

In Darke Co. Near Arcanum
Storm Center 7's lKimberly Thomson said that blowing and drifting snow is a major concern in Darke Co. She said the county is under a Level 3 Snow Emergency, which means travel is prohibited except for emergency personnel.

Thomson said visibility is reduced and that winds are about 21 mph.

IMAGES From Saturday, March 8, 2008 Winter Storm
Kimberly Thomson Reports On Blowing, Drifting Snow In Darke Co.
Jill Del Greco Reports On Winter Storm In Huber Heights

11:02 p.m.Update:
Heavy snow continues to fall hard in the Miami Valley and roadways are very hazardous. Stay tuned to Channel 7 for the very latest on weather conditions.

9:20 p.m. Update:
Heavy snow continues across the Miami Valley. The winds have increased over the last few hours, allowing for blowing and drifting snow. Storm Center 7 Meteorologist Jamie Simpson said that some areas could see 3 to 4 foot snow drifts on Saturday.

Roads continue to be snow-covered and will be hazardous through the night. Many counties have issued snow emergencies.

8:15 p.m. Update:

If you plan to go out on the road, be careful on the slick roads. The road crews are very busy keeping up with this winter storm Friday evening. The Miami Valley is under a Blizzard warning until Saturday.

5:24 p.m. Update:
We're going to be getting a short break in our weather in the next hour or so, but more snow will be moving in tonight and overnight. And conditions will get downright brutal with high winds blowing snow and creating white out conditions.

Numerous accidents have been reported throughout the day including a school bus accident at Philadelphia Drive and Forest Grove in Dayton. Police said the bus driver lost control going down a hill and crashed into a utility pole. There were students from Bellhaven School on the bus. No one was seriously hurt.

4:00 p.m. Update:
Wilmington Avenue is treated and looking very good right now according to News Center 7's Jill Del Greco.

3:59 p.m. Update:
If you haven't checked out this video, take a look. Man Climbs WHIO-TV Tower Dave Fitz is the man climbing the tower in the snow to fix the WHIO-TV camera, which provides you with live views of Kettering, Oakwood, Beavercreek and Dayton.

3:31 p.m. Update:
The National Weather Service has now issued a Blizzard Warning.

3 p.m. Update:
Heavy snow continues to fall in the Dayton and the surrounding communities. Roads in the metro-Dayton area appear to be wet, but a lot of highways and interstates have been the scene of numerous crashes because of slick road conditions.

Travel remains very hazardous. There are many counties that have issued snow emergencies, which means that motorists should travel only if necessary.

2 p.m. Update:
Roads continue to be slick across the region. The best thing to do is to drive carefully if you have to go out on the roadways. News Center 7's Gabrielle Enright said that a lot of people are still packing the stores in Xenia getting some last minute groceries.

Storm Center 7 Chief Meteorologist Jamie Simpson said road crews are going to be hampered by the strong winds and is going to make clearing the roads tough. Simpson said the best thing to do is to stay home and wait the storm out for the next 24 hours.

The line of snow that is moving through the region may let up a bit into the evening hours, but more snow is expected to fall overnight and into Saturday.

1 p.m. Update:
Road conditions around the Miami Valley continue to worsen as heavy snow falls. At the 1 p.m. hour, the temperature in Dayton is 18 degrees and the windchill feels like 11 degrees.

Storm Center 7 Meteorologist Jeff Porter said one of the biggest concerns is going to be blowing and drifting snow. Numerous crashes have been reported all over the Miami Valley.

Porter said areas to the south and east could see up to 14 inches of snow by the time the storm winds down on Saturday.

Noon Update:
Huber Heights - News Center 7's Cathy Stelzer is along I-70 and 202 in Huber Heights where there are nine accidents along just a short stretch of the Interstate. Cathy reports that I-70 in Huber Heights is simply a parking lot, with traffic not moving at all in the past hour.

Miami Township - Visibility is low at the I-675 / I-75 junction, according to News Center 7's Jim Otte. Traffic is moving however.

11 a.m. Update:
Heavy snow is now falling all over the Dayton area. Police are reporting numerous car accidents on I-70 in the Miami Valley including a multiple car accident on westbound I-70 near Route 202.

Officials warn motorists to slow down because the highways and secondary roads are slick and snow covered.

10 a.m. Update:
Heavier snow is moving through the Dayton-metro area. The snow is sticking to the ground and to the roadways outside the WHIO-TV studios on Wilmington Avenue.

Snow will continue through the afternoon and evening, leaving up to 4 inches of snow before the end of the day. More snow will move through overnight and on Saturday leaving a total of up to 10 inches.

9:25 a.m. Update:
Communities mostly south of Interstate 70 are seeing periods of snow. Viewers who have sent in observations to the Storm Center 7 Severe Weather Forum said that the snow has fallen in some areas of Miami County yet.

The snow is causing roadways to become wet and possibly slick in some areas.

8:55 a.m. Update:
Light snow continues to fall across parts of the region.

Sgt. Mark Bowron said a crash has happened on Stanley Avenue to the nortbound on-ramp to I-75. He said roadways are wet because of the falling snow.

8:30 a.m. Update:
Heavier snow is now falling in Miami Township near I-75 and Route 725. Snow first began falling in this area around 5:45 a.m. With the snow now falling a little heavier than before, roads are becoming wet and possibly slick.

News Center 7's Cathy Stelzer said light snow if beginning to fall in Butler Township along I-75.

Sgt. Mark Bowron said a crash has happened on Brandt Pike near Texas in Huber Heights.

8 a.m. Update:
Traffic around the Miami Valley is moving pretty good, considering there has been some light snow falling in some areas. That snow made some of the roads wet.

Storm Center 7 Meteorologist Jeff Porter said more snow is headed toward the Miami Valley throughout the day and on Saturday. He said blowing and drifting snow is going to be a major problem on area roadways.

At this time, some areas in Preble County are seeing some heavier snow.

7:20 a.m. Update:
Viewers of News Center 7 have been sending in observations to the Storm Center 7 Severe Weather Forum all morning. Viewers said that light to moderate snow is falling in areas of Clark County and in areas south of Dayton.

The snow is beginning to move forward in the northern parts of the Miami Valley.

Sgt. Mark Bowron said that some roadways are beginning to get a little slick in areas where the light snow has fallen.

7 a.m. Update:
More snow continues to fall across parts of the Miami Valley. Heavier snow is falling in and around the metro Dayton area.

Storm Center 7 Meteorologist Jeff Porter said most of the area should be seeing snow by 9 a.m. Porter said the area should see 2 to 4 inches of snow by the end of the day with more snow accumulating overnight.

Beacuse of the winter storm inching its way into the region, numerous school districts are closing for the day or they are issuing early dismissals.

Road conditions in the areas where the snow is falling are becoming wet. News Center 7's Cathy Stelzer, who is in Butler Township along I-75 said the snow has not begun to fall there yet, but it should not be too long before it starts.

News Center 7's Mike Campbell is in Miami Township along Route 725, and he said light snow is falling there. He said the snow is beginning to cover the ground, but the roads are mainly just wet.

Man Climbs WHIO-TV Tower
whiotv.com Exclusive: Gabrielle Enright Reports On Snowy Conditions In Greene Co.
Jim Otte Reports On Snowy Conditions In Miami Twp.
IMAGES From March 7, 2008 Winter Storm
Mike Campbell Reports On Snow Plow Safety Cathy Stelzer Reports On Highway Crashes Mike Campbell Reports: Snow Falls In Miami Twp. RAW VIDEO: Light Snow Outside WHIO-TV Studios Cathy Stelzer Reports: Snow, Road Conditions In Butler Twp.
Mike Campbell Reports: Miami Twp. Snow Conditions

6:45 a.m. Update:
What is being called the biggest winter storm of the season is headed toward the Miami Valley Friday and into Saturday.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the entire Miami Valley for Friday and Saturday. This storm is expected to bring a total snowfall amount of 7-12 inches of snow, depending on where you live.

Snow began moving in from the southwest and started falling in the southern parts of the Miami Valley around 6 a.m. Friday.

Travel across the region has been good so far, as the snow has been light.

People prepared for this storm by heading out to the stores on Thursday night stocking up on food and necessities.

Storm Center 7 Meteorologist Jeff Porter and the rest of the Storm Center 7 will be tracking this storm throughout the day.