Albert Lea Area Schools are closed Thursday. St. Theodore Catholic School and Hollandale Christian School are also closed. United Preschool announced it will close Thursday.

New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva will close Thursday. Previously the district had announced a two-hour delay.

Alden-Conger, Glenville-Emmons, Lake Mills and Northwood-Kensett public schools have closed for Thursday.

United South Central school in Wells announced school is canceled.

The National Weather Service predicts more snow with widespread blowing before noon today. Temperatures will fall to around 17 by 5 p.m., with wind chill values between -2 and 7. Tonight there will be more blowing snow with winds of 21 to 26 mph. Gusts could be as high as 38 mph.

A blizzard warning is in effect until 6 p.m. tonight. The National Weather Service said a rapidly deepening low pressure system will track northeast into northern Illinois this afternoon. Snow will gradually taper off this morning and early afternoon leaving total accumulations of 5 to 9 inches from Albert Lea to Red Wing and Eau Claire. The combination of freshly fallen snow and such strong winds will bring considerable blowing and drifting snow to open areas, including along Interstates 35 and 90. Travel will become extremely dangerous and is not recommended.

Look to the Tribune for more school closures as they are announced.

Other area schools that are closed: Austin public and non-public, Blue Earth Area, Blooming Prairie, Clear Lake, Mason City, NIACC, Owatonna, Rochester public and non-public, Winona and St. Ansgar, among others.