All local schools were closed Friday as residents and crews dug out after round one of a heavy snow storm that dumped about 9 inches of snow in Austin overnight.

But it wasn’t over.

A lull in the storm gave crews and residents time to dig out Friday morning, but more snow was on the way with The National Weather Service in La Crosse, Wisconsin, saying an additional 4 to 8 inches of snow could fall Friday in peak areas.

Some forecasts called for an additional 1 to 4 inches.

“If you don’t need to be out, don’t go out and about,” Austin Police Chief Brian Krueger said Friday morning.

Krueger said the city of Austin was going to try to clear the roads without issuing a snow emergency and would work around parked cars without towing them.

But the biggest problem Friday was expected to be the winds, which were expected to increase to 35 to 45 mph, causing significant blowing, drifting and whiteout conditions. A blizzard warning remains in effect until 6 a.m. Saturday.

As of this morning, NWS tallied snowfall totals at 9 inches in Austin, 8.5 inches in Grand Meadow, 5 inches in LeRoy and a foot in parts of Rochester.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation listed all roads in southeast Minnesota as completely covered Friday morning, and MnDOT issued a statement on Thursday advising no travel Friday morning.

Along with all area schools being closed, SMART Transit announced it was starting services late at 10 a.m. in its four-county area. It would operate after 10 a.m. on plowed roads only.

Austin SEMCAC Senior Dining was closed Friday, and a gallery opening scheduled for Friday at the Austin ArtWorks Center has been postponed until March 10.