Though Winter Storm Jonas’ bark was worse than its bite, the storm dumped 10 inches of snow across Farmville and Central and Southside Virginia on Saturday and Sunday, shutting down schools, local governments and businesses, and keeping people off of the roads.

Forecasters had predicted up to 2 feet of snow for the area, along with 30-plus miles-per-hour wind gusts.

Wind gusts reached almost 43 mph according to WFLO.

By about 5 p.m. on Saturday, about 6 and a half inches of snow had fallen in Farmville, according to Francis Wood, general manager of radio station WFLO, the area’s National Weather Service Cooperative Observer. The total official 2-day snowfall was recorded at 10 inches on Sunday, he said.

“If that sleet had of been snow, you’d probably have had a few more inches onto it.”

Farmville averages 5.7 inches of snow in January, he said.

Wood, of Buckingham, said it was one of the deepest snows he’d seen “all happening at one time. It’s one of the larger snows we’ve had … in recent years.”

Other areas reported greater and lesser measurements.

Longwood University cancelled classes on Friday and Monday, and school divisions remain closed Tuesday.

Once the snow began, Virginia Department of Transportation crews were deployed in 12-hour shifts, working around the clock to keep roads and highways clear of snow and ice.

According to Farmville Town Manager Gerald Spates, town crews worked in 12-hour shifts around the clock plowing the streets.

“We get everything ready ahead of time,” Spates said. He said it was key to prepare the chemical trucks before the snowfall began.

“It’s probably the biggest one in awhile,” he said of the snow. “I think we had one in the 1980s that was a lot bigger.”

He said the town didn’t have any problems dealing with the snow. “It was slick and people stayed off the road and things were okay … It makes it harder for the snow plows, especially the way some people parked on the street … It just makes it hard for the big trucks to get by.”

Despite gusty winds and falling sleet on Friday night, Dominion Virginia Power, Central Virginia Electric Cooperative and Southside Electric Cooperative — all which serve The Herald’s three-county coverage area — reported very few power outages.

Because of the weather and the road conditions, over 60 healthcare workers spent the weekend at Centra Southside Community Hospital in Farmville, according to hospital spokeswoman Kerry Mossler, sleeping in vacant patient rooms and other spaces.