NORWICH – Valentine’s Day, the holiday that’s normally covered in red, could be blanketed with up to two feet of snow by tonight, local emergency officials say.

During what is the first significant snow storm of the year locally, some sweethearts may actually be forced to spend the day bundled-up together, as Chenango County is under a winter storm advisory until 10 p.m. and could receive one to two inches of snow per hour at times.

High winds and intense snow fall are expected to make travel conditions dicey this afternoon on into tonight.

“This afternoon’s forecast could be the worst part of the storm,” said City of Norwich Emergency Officer A. Wesley Jones. Jones said that 16 to 24 inches of heavy snow and 20 to 30 mph winds could create white-out situations and drifts on the roadways, and motorists and people leaving their homes are urged to use caution. “Hopefully people will be paying attention, and taking precautions when they are able.”