Several Ohio counties remain under snow emergencies Thursday after a large winter storm brought heavy snow showers to the state Sunday afternoon and into Monday afternoon. Though snowfall has been limited since Monday,

Sheriff’s offices and departments collaborate with county emergency managers to determine whether current conditions with the weather and roadways constitute issuing a snow emergency level. Since 1994, county sheriffs have had the authority to issue snow emergencies, using guidelines given by the state.

There are three levels and each one requires different responses from drivers. Parking restrictions can also be put in place.

Ross County is under a level 3 snow emergency which means that roadways are closed to non-emergency personnel and that no travel should be happening unless absolutely necessary. Moving the county to level 3 is not something Sheriff George Lavender takes lightly.