As a winter storm descended this morning on a region already combating below-zero temperatures, many schools opted to close for the day.

Here is the list of school cancellations and delays in the Albert Lea area for today:

Albert Lea: 2 hours late

Alden-Conger: Closed

Blue Earth: 2 hours late

Clear Lake: Closed

Forest City: Closed

Glenville-Emmons: Closed

Hollandale Christian School: 2 hours late

Lake Mills: Closed

Mason City: 2 hours late

Montessori School of Albert Lea: 2 hours late; no a.m. preschool

New Richland-Ellendale-Hartland-Geneva: Dismiss at 1 p.m.

Northwood-Kensett: Closed

St. Ansgar: Closed

St. Theodore Catholic School: 2 hours late

United South Central: Closed

A winter weather advisory was in effect for Freeborn County through 6 p.m. today. Counties to the south and west — where more of the school closings were — were in a winter storm warning through 6 p.m. The heaviest snow has fallen in west central Minnesota. As of 3 a.m. the area was reported to have 3 to 7 inches of the white stuff. Albert Lea woke up to about 2 inches of new snow.

In Albert Lea, today will be blustery, causing blowing snow, but Friday will be frigid, with a high of 4 below and a wind chill between 22 below and 31 below — and even colder to the west.

The mercury on Saturday is forecast to reach 3 degrees. Sunday looks to be the nice day, with a high of 15.