POLK COUNTY – After being predicted to receive a dusting to an inch of snow early Wednesday, Jan. 17, the area received between 3-5 inches of snow, making travel treacherous on secondary roads for days.

Temperatures remained below freezing Wednesday into Thursday afternoon so the snow that fell did not begin thawing until later Thursday.

Schools were closed in Polk County and Landrum, as well as all of Spartanburg County both Wednesday and Thursday.

While vehicle accidents were prevalent in other areas as well as along I-26, accidents in Polk County were few considering the condition of the roads. I-26 was backed up most of the day Wednesday, particularly westbound and there was at least one tractor-trailer accident.

The N.C. Department of Transportation (DOT) reported Wednesday they had put down 3,305 tons of salt and 1,522 tons of salt/sand mix to help clear roads in 16 western North Carolina counties, including Polk. DOT also said they had 414 employees working since the start of the storm on Tuesday with 223 trucks and plows and 24 motor-graders working the roads.

In Polk County alone, the DOT had 18 employees, seven trucks, one motor-grader and two contractors working. The DOT spread 50 tons of salt on Polk County roads, according to DOT reports.

Polk County Emergency Management Director Bobby Arledge said emergency crews worked several accidents on Wednesday, but nothing major. He also said I-26, U.S. 74 and NC 108 were cleared on Wednesday and NC 9 was being cleared as well. Most secondary roads were still not clear as of late Wednesday.

In Tryon, assistant fire chief James “Tank” Waters said things were quiet but the roads were very slick. Waters warned that the roads will only get more treacherous as the night goes.

Most of Tryon, Columbus, Saluda, Lake Lanier and Landrum received three inches of snow, while Mill Spring received over four inches and parts of Polk County close to Rutherford County received up to five inches of snow.

Emergency officials urged residents to stay at home unless absolutely necessary because of the conditions.

Temperatures dipped to 16 degrees before midnight Wednesday, Jan. 17 and got in the mid 40s on Thursday. Temperatures Friday morning, Jan. 19 were expected to drop to 28 early in the morning but reach 54 degrees by 2 p.m.

This was the second snowstorm this winter. The first occurred on Dec.8-9 and brought 10 inches of snow to Saluda.