Pull out the sleds, the snow shovels and the mukluks – the Lawrence area has close to eight inches of fluffy snow on the ground this morning, coupled with sub-freezing temperatures, said Jennifer Schack, 6News meteorologist.

“We’re topping out only in the teens today. That arctic air is still in place,” Schack said. “If you want to get out and do a sled ride today, make sure you bundle up.”

While most public and private schools in the area announced Wednesday night they would take a snow day today (see story), officials at Kansas University and Haskell Indian Nations University said this morning they will have classes today.

KU has implemented its inclement weather policy, which means employees have an extra hour to get into work and overnight employees are permitted to leave an hour early. Haskell employees are asked to use their own discretion about coming into work.

Convoys of road crews were out on the streets and highways this morning, plowing the more heavily traveled streets and putting down sand and salt. Although there were a few minor accidents, no major traffic problems were reported this morning on area highways.

“I think we picked up around seven or eight inches in Lawrence,” Schack said. Schack said higher amounts of snow fell just to the south and east of Lawrence, up to as much as 10 inches.

At 8 a.m., the temperature was minus 4 and the winds were northwesterly at 8 mph, making the windchill minus 19 degrees. The average temperature for this date is 28 for the morning low and 45 degrees for the afternoon high. The record low for this date is minus 8, set in 1917.

“Our temperature today makes it up to only 14 degrees,” Schack said, explaining that would be a new record for the lowest high temperature for this date. “I do think the sunshine will return this afternoon.”

However, winds will be from the northwest at 5 to 10 mph, keeping the windchill down to zero today, Schack said.

Overnight, the temperature will fall to minus 4 degrees by early Friday morning, with north winds 5 to 10 mph, making the windchill close to minus 20 degrees, she said.

Friday’s high temperature will reach 28 degrees, with winds 5 to 10 mph, she said.

“We’ll start to melt tomorrow and we’ll continue that process through the weekend,” Schack said.

The weekend will bring warmer temperatures. Saturday’s morning low will be 16 degrees, climbing to an afternoon high of 39 degrees. Sunday’s high will reach 43.