FARGO – Several inches of heavy, wet snow have led to widespread school closings, and a slow, white-knuckle commute for drivers in and around the Fargo-Moorhead area Monday, March 5.

At least 3 inches of snow was reported in Fargo, but in nearby Harwood, N.D., there was 5 inches of snow, by 8 a.m., according to National Weather Service Meteorologist Brad Hopkins.

Hopkins said the snow was setting up in bands, “so amounts are going to be very variable,” throughout the day and until the snow stops in the early morning hours of Tuesday.

“We do expect generally 6 to 8 inches, but localized amounts up to 12 inches. Depending on whether or not you’re under one of those (heavy precipitation) bands as it sets up,” Hopkins said.

“This is not your typical winter system,” he said. “It’s behaving more like a convective event that you would see in the summertime.”

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That means one area might get a lot of snow, but 10 miles away, amounts could be significantly lighter, he said.

The Fargo, Moorhead, West Fargo and Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton public schools were closed Monday, as well as Minnesota State University Moorhead and North Dakota State University. The University of North Dakota in Grand Forks called off classes Monday, too.

MATBUS routes and MAT Paratransit service were being cancelled as of 10:45 a.m. Monday, with all routes to be completed by 11:15 a.m. at their respective hubs, including the downtown Fargo Ground Transportation Center, the West Acres shopping center and the Marriott hotel in Moorhead. The Metro Transit Garage will close at 11:30 a.m.

All of the North Dakota Class B regional boys basketball tournaments were postponed until Tuesday, March 6, the North Dakota High School Activities Association announced.

Essentia Health closed Minnesota clinics in Chokio, Frazee and Pelican Rapids.

Karlstad, Minn., had 7 inches of snow by 5:30 a.m. In North Dakota, early morning snowfall totals included 4.3 inches in Michigan and 4 inches in Pembina and Drayton, Hopkins said.

Starting late Sunday night, North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota had a potpourri of weather: rain, snow, hail and ice pellets, Hopkins said.

“You name it, we’ve had every type of precipitation you can see,” he said.

However, through the day Monday, most of what falls will be snow. Much of the snow will be heavy and wet because the air temperatures are around the freezing point, he said.

The morning commute was slow in Fargo-Moorhead, with plows working to open lanes on Interstates 94 and 29, as travelers crept along and tried to avoid sliding into ditches. Still several crashes were reported over emergency responders’ radio.

The commute was complicated on Main Avenue just before 8 a.m. as at least one set of stoplights on the east side of the Main Avenue intersection with I-29 stopped working. Troopers were using light wands to direct traffic.

The North Dakota Highway Patrol and state Department of Transportation said a travel alert remains in effect today for northwestern, central and eastern North Dakota due to icy road conditions, accumulating snow and reduced visibility. Cities included in the alert are Williston, Minot, Grand Forks, Valley City, Jamestown, Fargo, and surrounding areas. Motorists are advised to reduce speeds as roads are icy.

About 9 a.m., the alert was expanded to include Bismarck, Devils Lake and surrounding areas due to icy roads and reduced visibility.

Hopkins urged anyone who was traveling to exercise caution.

“Take extra time to get to your destination. Other than that, use some common sense. Make sure you have your winter emergency kit with you and let someone know where you’re going.” he said.