photo by: Chris Conde

Crews work to clear sidewalks in downtown Lawrence after an overnight snowstorm on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022.

Douglas County on Wednesday received a blanket of snow as thick as 4 inches in some places, according to the National Weather Service in Topeka.

Four inches of snow was recorded in Lecompton, while other parts of the county saw 2 to 3 inches, said Daniel Reese, a meteorologist with the NWS.

Most area schools and the University of Kansas were closed Wednesday.

Snow is expected to accumulate throughout Wednesday morning and will likely clear up in the afternoon. Another storm is forecast for Wednesday night, but it should stay south of Lawrence and Interstate-35, Reese said. Temperatures will drop overnight into single digits by Thursday morning with wind chills as low as minus 10 degrees.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office responded to five calls between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. for weather-related automobile accidents or slide-offs, said spokesman George Diepenbrock. No injuries were reported. The sheriff’s office advises drivers to remain cautious while crews continue to clear the roads.

Highways in Douglas County are covered in snow, and blowing conditions could affect visibility, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation website.

The Lawrence Police Department reported two noninjury accidents in the city due to weather conditions as of 10:20 a.m., according to Sgt. Trent McKinley. Police are asking motorists to reduce their speeds and to make sure their windows are free of snow and ice.

No power outages have been reported in Douglas County, according to Evergy’s regional power outage maps.