Looks like Lawrence, for the most part, dodged a bullet.

Well : make that a snowflake.

After doomsday predictions earlier this week of multiple inches of snow piling on the Lawrence area, the heart of the city received only a brief dusting after sundown Thursday.

“That had to be the closest call we’ve had in a long time,” 6News meteorologist Jennifer Schack said.

But just south and east of here, the white stuff did pile up, Schack said.

Snow accumulation in Baldwin City – just 15 miles south of Lawrence – reached 7 inches in some areas, and Wellsville to the southeast got hit with as much as 9 inches, Schack said.

But in Lawrence, the snow never came, thanks in part to lower humidity levels here, she said.

Even predictions for today improved, with temperatures likely to climb near the freezing mark after two days of frigid temperatures.

The storm, which was expected to produce the heaviest snow in southern Kansas and Oklahoma, arrived on the heels of Wednesday’s ice storm.

The ice storm, a winter storm warning and forecasts for heavy snow were enough to cause Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to declare a state of emergency for south-central, southeast and northeast Kansas, which includes Douglas County, about 5 p.m. Thursday.

The declaration ensures that resources will be available to counties severely affected by the storm, including crews to restore electrical power if needed.

Kansas Emergency Management activated the state’s emergency operations center Wednesday when sleet and freezing rain began falling in much of the state.

Street crews at work

Lawrence Public Works street maintenance crews worked in shifts Wednesday and Thursday treating ice-covered streets. Street division director Tom Orzulak watched the radar late Thursday afternoon trying to decide when – or if – the heavy snow would make it to Lawrence.

“We’re still just kind of waiting to see what happens,” Orzulak said. “We’re prepared for 5 inches of snow, and if that doesn’t happen we’re just going to clean the residentials.”

All city streets had been treated three times as of 3:45 p.m. Thursday, Orzulak said.

“There’s still ice on them, but they’ve been treated,” he said. “When you get ice, there isn’t much you can do. Once it’s packed on all you can do is put sand on it and treat it. You have to wait until it softens up before you can plow it off.”

Douglas County emergency dispatchers said at 10 p.m. that about 40 accidents were reported Thursday but none involved serious injuries.

Slip-sliding to class

Lawrence public and private schools canceled classes Thursday, but it was business as usual on the Kansas University campus even if it meant slipping and sliding on the way to class.

“I haven’t fallen, but I’ve come close several times and I’ve been walking all over,” Olathe freshman Dan Robertson said Thursday afternoon after making it inside the Kansas Union.

Two other KU students, sophomores Patrick Roth, of Mission Hills, and Drew Vickers, of Denver, decided to spend Thursday afternoon at Southwind 12 Theatres, 3433 Iowa, watching the latest James Bond movie, “Casino Royale.” If it weren’t for the ice and snow forecasts, they probably would have done something else, they said.

“I don’t really mind it,” Vickers said of the weather. “I just hope they (KU) cancel school tomorrow.”

Only a few customers were showing up to see the movies by midafternoon, and Southwind assistant manager Jaclyn Simpson said she wasn’t sure how the weather would affect turnout for the early and late shows.

“Last year on a snow day it was pretty big,” Simpson said of past crowds. “If people think there won’t be any school (today) then they will probably come to the early shows. A lot of it just depends on the weather and how bad it gets.”

‘Burning time’

Lawrence resident David Patchen walked around The Toy Store, 936 Mass., Thursday afternoon with his children, Grace, 6, and Jake, 3. While Jake ogled at a Thomas the Tank train set, his sister worked the remote controls to a toy dump truck.

Patchen, however, wasn’t Christmas shopping.

“We’re just burning time,” he said. “I thought this would be a good place to bring them. They were excited to get to come here.”

Most shopping center parking lots across Lawrence appeared to be no more full than most weekdays and in some locations less so. Downtown parking spaces were not hard to find.

The ice and slick streets may have discouraged many people from getting out, said Steve Buren, Toy Store manager. But if Lawrence is covered with snow today, it might infect shoppers with the Christmas spirit, Buren said.

“In general, I think a good snowfall brings people out,” he said. “Plus it is close to the weekend.”