A deep low pressure system tracked from northern Georgia to the North Carolina coast. Warm air in the low levels allowed precipitation to fall initially as rain, however cold air wrapping around the west side of the low caused rain to change over to a brief period of intense sleet, before changing over to snow across the mountains during the afternoon. Snowfall rates were at times 2 to 3 inches per hour for some locations. Snowfall came to an end quickly from west to east during late evening as drier air aloft moved into the area.
The following is a list of snowfall reports from across West Virginia.
- Greenbrier County -
4 SE Ronceverte: 8.2 inches,
Organ Cave: 7.0 inches,
2 NNE Dickson: 7.0 inches,
Lewisburg: 5.0 inches,
1 ENE Ronceverte: 3.0 inches,
White Sulphur Spring: 3.0 inches,
Alderson: 2.5 inches.
- Mercer County -
Princeton: 15.0 inches,
South Bluefield: 11.8 inches,
Lilly Grove: 11.0 inches,
Bluefield: 10.0 inches,
Athens: 9.5 inches,
1 S South Bluefield: 6.0 inches.
- Monroe County -
1 SSW Rock Camp: 12.0 inches,
Greenville: 12.0 inches,
Ballard: 12.0 inches,
1 SE Gap Mills: 12.0 inches,
1 NE Wayside: 12.0 inches,
5 W Union: 10.2 inches,
Pickaway: 9.5 inches,
Peterstown: 7.0 inches,
2 E Wolfcreek: 5.5 inches.
- Summers County -
Hinton: 10.0 inches,
Wiggins: 7.0 inches,
1 NE Pipestem: 5.5 inches,
Pence Springs: 3.5 inches,
Sandstone: 0.7 inches,
Nimitz: 0.4 inches.

Heavy Snow in SUMMERS, WEST VIRGINIA
From 17-JAN-13 11:00:00 to 17-JAN-13 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Storm total snowfall amounts across Summers County ranged from 10.0 inches at Hinton to less than a half inch at Nimitz. Other storm total snowfall reports include 7.0 inches at Wiggins and 5.5 inches at 1 NE Pipestem.

Heavy Snow in MONROE, WEST VIRGINIA
From 17-JAN-13 11:00:00 to 17-JAN-13 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Storm total snowfall amounts across Summers County ranged from 12.0 inches at 1 SSW Rock Camp to 5.5 inches at 2 E Wolfcreek. Other storm total snowfall reports include 12.0 inches at Greenville, 12.0 inches at Ballard, 12.0 inches at 1 SE Gap Mills, 12.0 inches at 1 NE Wayside, 10.2 inches at 5 W Union, 9.5 inches at Pickaway and 7.0 inches at Peterstown.

Heavy Snow in GREENBRIER, WEST VIRGINIA
From 17-JAN-13 11:15:00 to 18-JAN-13 04:15:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Storm total snowfall amounts across Greenbrier County ranged from 8.2 inches at 4 SE Ronceverte to 2.5 inches at Alderson. Other storm total snowfall reports include 7.0 inches at Organ Cave, 7.0 inches at 2 NNE Dickson, 5.0 inches at Lewisburg, 3.0 inches at 1 ENE Ronceverte and 3.0 inches at White Sulphur Spring.

Heavy Snow in MERCER, WEST VIRGINIA
From 17-JAN-13 10:59:00 to 17-JAN-13 19:04:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Storm total snowfall amounts across Mercer County ranged from 6.0 inches at 1 S South Bluefield to 15.0 inches at Princeton. Other storm total snowfall reports include 11.8 inches at South Bluefield, 11.0 inches at Lilly Grove, 10.0 inches at Bluefield and 9.5 inches in Athens.