Rodger Wolfram of Pine Farms removes downed ice-covered tree limbs from a trapped truck.

It’s getting even uglier — and colder.

Snow began falling in Lawrence this afternoon and was expected to add another inch to the mix of ice and sleet that was already knocking down trees and power lines and making travel difficult throughout the area.

“Basically, we have very light snow remaining,” said Matt Sayers, 6News meteorologist. Lawrence had received about an inch of snow by mid afternoon as temperatures began dropping into the low 20s. A northerly 10 mph wind put the wind chill at 12 degrees.

“We have an inch out there, maybe two inches total of ice, sleet and snow,” Sayers said. He said very light snow would continue to fall through the afternoon.

Gina Penzig, a spokeswoman for Westar Energy, said there were still 700 homes in Lawrence without power this afternoon. Most of the outages were being caused by tree limbs that pulled down power lines or by power lines that were broken from a heavy ice coating, she said. As many as 1,200 homes had lost power in Lawrence earlier today.

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Penzig said the goal is to have power restored to everyone in Lawrence by Thursday evening. About 92,000 residential customers in Kansas were without power today, she said. Some homes in central Kansas will be without power for seven to 10 days, she said.

At least one area resident has reported getting a busy signal at Westar’s automated reporting line. Penzig suggested that people continue to call if they get a busy signal. The phone system is set up to handle 30,000 calls per hour. The number is 1-800-LIGHTKS (1-800-544-4857).

Police and dispatchers in Franklin, Douglas and Jefferson counties have reported no major injury accidents so far today.

Two schools districts in the Lawrence area, Basehor-Linwood and Tonganoxie, had already decided to cancel classes for Thursday.

Kansas University has implemented its inclement weather policy.

That means all KU non-emergency employees are allowed to leave up to an hour before the end of their work period today. They are allowed to arrive up to one hour later than they are scheduled on Thursday. All emergency employees are expected to work regular hours. For more information call 864-SNOW.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ office said this morning that state employees who are considered non-essential did not have to go in to work today.

Because of all the fallen tree limbs throughout the city from the overnight ice storm, Lawrence’s brush drop-off site will be open from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday through Jan. 12. The brush drop off location is located at 1420 E. 11th St.

Tree limbs and brush from citizen’s private property may be taken to the location free of charge. The limbs will be chipped and used as mulch throughout the city.

Private tree materials not taken to the drop-off site need to be properly bundled for city refuse collection during its weekly scheduled pick up. Materials need to be bundled and placed with trash for removal. Bundles should not exceed 5 feet in length, 18 inches in diameter or 65 pounds per bundle.