After a couple of false starts earlier this fall, Lawrence may actually see some measurable snow on the ground by this time Wednesday.

A winter storm watch for much of Kansas is scheduled to go into effect at noon today, according to the National Weather Service. As much as 3 to 5 inches of snow could fall on Lawrence, 6News forecaster Ross Janssen said.

“The heavy band of snow might be to the north of Lawrence where it could be 8 to 10 inches,” he said.

A storm system was to move across the southern and central Plains and abundant moisture from the Gulf of Mexico will feed into it, bringing snow to Kansas, according to weather service forecasts.

Rain was expected to fall early this morning and turn to snow about 5 p.m., Janssen said. It will be a wet snow because today’s high temperature was predicted to be 37 degrees, he said. The snow will end by Wednesday morning, when the sun will return.

During the storm some parts of Kansas could see blowing snow from 40 mph wind gusts, and motorists were advised by the weather service to be cautious.

The snow, however, will do little to dent the drought in the Lawrence area. Prior to today, only 0.9 of an inch of moisture has been recorded during December at Lawrence Municipal Airport, Janssen said. A total of 29.03 inches of moisture had been recorded for the year — 9.5 inches below normal.

It takes about 10 inches of snow to equal an inch of rain, Janssen said.

The long-range forecast for Kansas only predicts a 50 percent chance of normal precipitation during the next three months, said Phillip Bills, meteorologist for the weather service in Topeka.

6News video: Winter weather on the way Latest forecast

“In other words, it’s a toss-up,” he said.

Eric Davis, who works for Update Landscape, picks up leaves in Lawrence. Monday may have been residents' last chance for outdoor work before inclement weather sets into the area. Forecasters are predicting as much as 3 to 5 inches of snow tonight and into Wednesday.