All remained relatively quiet in the outlying townships of Chenango County, officials said Wednesday, throughout the first intense and blowing snowfall of the winter.

As of 7 p.m., nine townships were able to confirm that power remained on and that highway departments were working around the clock in their areas.

“We’ve got a lot of snow,” said Town of Pharsalia Supervisor Dennis Brown. “The power is on and we are all warm, and we are all thankful for that.”

Aside from the cold winds and heavy snows, by Wednesday evening officials said there had been no significant developments during the storm up to that point. They all commended their plow teams – and motorists – for keeping the roads clear.

“We had a long day today,” said Preston Highway Superintendent Charles Stein, who sent his crews home at 5 p.m. after a 14-hour day, preparing for another today starting at 3 a.m. “Our crew was real professional today. We’re lucky to have the one we have. Chenango County is lucky to have all the highway crews they have and the work they do.”

Most departments began clearing paths between 2:30 and 3:30 a.m.

“They’ve done a great job keeping the roads open,” Brown said.

Forecasts predicted between 16 and 24 inches of for the area. According to the City of Norwich Emergency Management Office, spotters submitted reports to the National Weather Service in Binghamton indicating that 23 inches fell in Norwich and as much as 26 in Bainbridge.