The snow accumulated and streets were covered Tuesday morning, but Austin residents may catch a break as warmer temperatures and sunshine promise to clear road conditions as soon as Wednesday.

“Travel conditions should improve drastically,” said Meteorologist Todd Shea with the National Weather Service in La Crosse, Wis.

Snowfall totals in the area Tuesday morning ranged from 3.5 to 7 inches in Mower County, with Austin itself sitting on the low end at 3.5. Combined with Monday’s levels, Mower residents had seen between 5 and 8 inches of snow as of Tuesday morning, Shea said.

In Brownsdale, Stewartville and Rochester areas, morning totals were running closer to six inches. Albert Lea faced a lighter side of the storm and received about 2 inches of snow.

Snowfall was expected taper off throughout the day Tuesday as the system moved away from the area.

“The snow is going to be moving off to the north and east,” Shea said. “The whole storm will be exiting off tonight.”

Calm weather should follow through the weekend, Shea said, but more snow is on the horizon.

“We do have another big storm expected early next week,” he said.

Numerous area school districts and Riverland Community College announced closings early Tuesday morning in response to the snow. The Austin Police Department recorded at least one crash in Austin on Monday evening when a driver slid into a utility pole at Fourth Street and 21st Avenue Northwest; however, an officer also detected alcohol on the driver’s breath. The 50-year-old Mapleview man was treated for a cut on his nose, informed about the Minnesota Implied Consent Advisory and given a urine test.

APD and a concerned citizen also encourage drivers to turn on their headlights during heavy snow.