Clear skies greeted the Lawrence area Friday, ending the sleet and ice storm that had pelted the area since Tuesday night. The winter storm led to thousands of homes losing power and three days of class cancellations for most area schools.

The storm brought 4 inches of sleet and 2 inches of freezing rain to Lawrence. As of Friday afternoon, 2,500 residences in Lawrence and Douglas County still were without electric power, according to Cynthia McCarvel, a spokeswoman for Westar Energy (formerly KPL).

That was down from 3,500 homes as of 10:30 p.m. Thursday night.

McCarvel said crews will continue to work through the weekend and into next week to restore power throughout the area.

Lawrence city officials said that all city Parks and Recreation classes for Friday night would take place as scheduled, except for activities at the East Lawrence Recreation Center, which was still without power.

The McLouth vs. Wathena high school basketball game scheduled for Friday has been rescheduled for Monday. The freshman/sophomore basketball tournament scheduled Saturday at Pleasant Ridge has been canceled.

The McLouth Middle School boy’s basketball game scheduled for Friday will be at held at 9 a.m. Saturday at Pleasant Ridge.

Lawrence public schools and most area public and private schools announced Thurday they would cancel classes again Friday. Kansas University officials have decided to return to a regular schedule after being off for the last two days.

The National Weather Service expects mostly sunny skies Friday afternoon, with highs in the lower 30s and west winds 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest.

Friday night, expect mostly clear skies with areas of dense fog developing late, lows near 10 above with south winds 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday, it will be mostly sunny, with highs in the mid 30s and southwest winds around 10 mph. Saturday night’s skies are expected to be mostly clear, with lows in the mid teens.

The following schools decided to cancel classes for Friday.

School districts:Lawrence, Baldwin, DeSoto, Eudora, McLouth, Oskaloosa, Perry-Lecompton and Tonganoxie.

Private schools and preschools: Bishop Seabury Academy, Veritas Christian School, Lawrence Catholic schools (St. John’s and Corpus Christi campuses), First Presbyterian Preschool, Raintree Montessori School, Sunshine Acres Montessori School, Montessori Children’s House, Stepping Stones Child Care, Lawrence Arts Center Preschool, Immanuel Lutheran Childhood Center and Head Start and Community Children’s Center.

6News will provide updated cancellation information on its moving line on Sunflower Broadband’s Channel 6.