Several area schools district announced closings Thursday in response to weather conditions, with many after-school activities also canceled:

—Austin Public and Pacelli; kids corner closed
—Blooming Prairie
—Grand Meadow
—Hayfield (senior class trip canceled also)
—LeRoy
—Riverland Community College (all campuses)
—Southland

Snow is expected to continue through the morning in the Austin area, adding to the three inches that fell overnight. The National Weather Service winter storm warning, extended now until 7 p.m., indicates total accumulations in western Mower County of five to nine inches.

The state Department of Transportation was advising no travel on I-90 from Albert Lea east past Rochester or on state highways in the area. The area or worst travel conditions extended from Albert Lea and Austin east and northeast to the Mississippi River. As of 5:30 a.m., several vehicles were reported to have spun out on I-90 in the Albert Lea area. The NWS warning said road temperatures had fallen into the low 30s, allowing snow to build up in driving lanes.

At 5:30 a.m., the temperature in Austin was 34 degrees with north winds at 15 mph gusting to 24 mph. The high is forecast to be 35 degrees, with snow and rain continuing through the day and into Friday.