Winter storm update: Most of snowfall yet to come in Ann Arbor area

Several school districts canceled evening activities. School officials have not yet decided whether there will be classes Wednesday but said they will monitor conditions throughout the evening.

The Road Commission's full fleet of 46 trucks will continue to salt and plow until 8 p.m. when a four-person night crew will take over to focus on the state highways, Harmon said. "We will have staff moderating throughout the evening and can modify that if needed," he said. The entire fleet will be back on again at 4 a.m. Wednesday and will likely work a long day, he said.

Kahlbaum said the amount of snowfall the area receives depends on what happens with three low pressure systems that are merging into one larger one. The strongest one is to the south over Alabama, and it could pull the system that is bringing snow to Michigan farther south. If that happens, snowfall totals will likely be toward the lower end of the weather service's forecast.

The storm sent some area residents shopping for tools to deal with it. The hottest selling item at Stadium Hardware in Ann Arbor this afternoon was ice melter, said Skip Hackbarth, a partner at the store. Snow shovels and windshield scrapers were also popular. "It always puts a fire underneath people when we get a little bit of snow. There's a shovel going out the door right now."

At Larry's Mower Shop in Scio Township, lots of people have been bringing in snow throwers that won't start, said Bob Blakeman, one of the owners. As for snow blowers, the store has sold three or four today, he said, though he expects more people will be shopping Wednesday if several inches of snow fall.

A winter storm warning remains in effect until 10 a.m. Wednesday. The weather service says. Snow will diminish toward sunrise, but the wind will begin to increase making travel hazardous through the morning commute. Conditions should improve by late morning, the weather service said.