MADISON, Wis. -- Blizzard-like conditions on Thursday have reminded many Wisconsin residents that recent mild weather doesn't mean winter's over.

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Heavy snow and strong winds combined to create whiteout conditions in parts of the state, including the Fox Valley and lakeshore areas.

The National Weather Service said that total accumulations of 10 inches or more of snow are expected there, along with winds gusting up to 40 mph. A blast of severe cold is also moving in.

The state got all kinds of weather as the storm moved in, from sleet to rain and even lightning and thunder to go with the snow. Some residents have been reported hearing instances of "thundersnow" as the storm moved through. (Read more information about "thundersnow.")

Four to 8 inches of snow had accumulated by midday in much of the area south of a line from Lafayette County to Sheboygan. Madison reported 10 inches.

Total accumulations could be 7 to 14 inches, depending on the area.

The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department said that it received 235 emergency calls for weather-related vehicle crashes and spinouts by mid-afternoon.

The AAA Wisconsin auto group said that it received 624 calls for service through noon on Thursday, which is more than twice the normal amount at this time of year.

Some schools called off classes because of the storm, and some others allowed children to go home early. More than 127 area schools closed or had delayed openings on Thursday morning, while 18 others closed early in the afternoon. (For more information about school closings or delays, visit Channel 3000's School Watch section.)

The University of Wisconsin-Madison canceled all classes starting after 4:30 p.m. because of the threat of continuing severe weather. It was the first time the school had canceled classes since December 1990, when more than 17 inches of snow fell in a 24-hour period.

Snow emergencies have been declared for the cities of Madison, Lodi, Marshall, Monona, Stoughton and Sun Prairie. A snow emergency has been declared for the village of Oregon for Thursday and Friday. A snow emergency was declared for the village of Deerfield starting at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday until 10 a.m. on Friday. An emergency was declared for the village of McFarland from noon Thursday to noon Friday, Feb. 17. (Read below for snow emergency rules.)

A winter storm warning remains is in effect for most of southern Wisconsin until midnight on Thursday.

The highest snowfall amounts will be in Sauk, Columbia, Marquette and Green Lake counties. Increasing winds will produce considerable blowing and drifting snow.

Law enforcement authorities caution drivers that road conditions will worsen throughout the day.

A winter storm warning is issued when snow, sleet, or freezing rain is expected to combine with strong winds of 20 mph or more. This will make travel dangerous or impossible, and power outages might result.

So far, the National Weather Service has issued winter storm warnings for 32 counties in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa through Thursday evening.

The counties include Adams; Columbia; Crawford; Dane; Dodge; Dubuque; Fond du Lac; Grant, Green; Green Lake; Iowa; Jefferson; Jo Daviess; Juneau; La Crosse; Lafayette; Marquette; McHenry; Monroe; Richland; Rock; Sauk; Stephenson; Vernon; Walworth; Washington; Waukesha; and Waushara. The counties in Iowa are Allamakee and Clayton. The Illinois counties are Boone and Winnebago.

Snow Affects Travel, Closes Activities

Madison Metro buses are running 20 minutes late. Bus services will continue, WISC-TV reported.

Other closings include:

Government:
Madison committee and commission meetings are canceled for Thursday night.
Dane County Board's Thursday meeting is canceled.
Northeast Community Court canceled Thursday at 6 p.m.
Windsor Town Board meeting for Thursday is canceled. The meeting is rescheduled for Feb. 23 at 5 p.m.
Schools: (For more information about school closings, visit School Watch section.)
All night classes at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater have been canceled.
Upper Iowa University classes are canceled.
Plato lecture at University of Wisconsin-Madison's Memorial Union canceled Thursday and Friday.
Edgewood College closed at 10 a.m.
Edgewood College men's basketball LMC Tournament game postponed to Feb. 19 at 4 p.m.
Madison Turner's School Of Gymnastics is closed.
School of Madison Ballet is closed.
Drums n' Moore School of Music is closed Thursday night.
Elm Side Children's School is closed.
Orchard Ridge Nursery School is closed.
Playful Harts Daycare in Stoughton closed at noon.
Milton schools, grades 7-12, closed at 11 a.m.
Milton schools, grades K-6, closed at 12 p.m.
Clinton Schools are closed at 11 a.m.
Central Wisconsin Christian boys basketball game postponed to Friday afternoon, Junior Varsity at 3:45 p.m., Varsity 5 p.m.
Malia's School of Dance class at the Maple Bluff Recreation Center is canceled.
Hospitals/Clinics:
East And West Towne Immediate Care Centers are closed. Call ahead on Friday to check if your appointments will be occurring.
Dean Health Clinic closed including urgent care at 2 p.m.
Meriter Medical Clinic in Middleton closed at 12 p.m.
Businesses :
West Towne Mall closed at 1 p.m. To reopen Friday morning at 10 a.m.
East Towne Mall closed at 1 p.m. To reopen Friday morning at 10 a.m.
Greenway Station Shopping Center closed at 1 p.m. Thursday and will re-open Friday at 10 a.m.
Sun Prairie Cardinal Theatre booster meeting is canceled.
Dane County Humane Society is closed
Springs Window Fashion in Middleton closed plant, no second or third shifts. Will be back in operations Friday morning first shift.
M&I banks is closed at 11 a.m.
Mardi Gras Expo is closed.
DOT skills tests are all canceled.
Charter Communications closed at 11:30 a.m. All offices closed due to weather, and techs reduced.
Overture Centers' After Work Free Music Series was canceled Thursday evening. The band, Big Nick and Cydecos, will be back on May 18.
East Washington Avenue Reconstruction Project Plan's information meeting on Thursday at the Bashford Methodist Church was canceled.
Placon Corporation employees on second, third and night shifts should not report to work on Thursday.
Others:
The Diocese of Madison's Parish Leadership Day, scheduled for Friday, Feb. 17, at the O'Connor Center was canceled.

Lawmakers Cancel Numerous Hearings

State lawmakers canceled several hearings scheduled for Thursday as near whiteout conditions have engulfed the Capitol. Others are trying to continue business as usual, though without several members.

According to governor spokeswoman Anne Lupardus, Gov. Jim Doyle made his scheduled stops in Chippewa and Dunn counties on Thursday and flew out of Madison with no problems.

But, Lupardus said that the governor's traveling party isn't sure how easy it'll be to fly back into Madison Thursday night.

City Snow Emergency Rules

City of Madison.
Alternate side parking restrictions will be in effect throughout the city, including the downtown/isthmus snow emergency zone. All vehicles should be removed from the street if possible. Residents who must park on the street on Thursday, Feb. 16, should park on the odd house-numbered side of the street. Vehicles parked on the street Friday, Feb. 17, should be parked on the even house-numbered side of the street. The snow emergency will remain in effect until 7 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18. Parking violations are punishable by a fine of $10 throughout most of the city and $20 in the downtown snow emergency zone.
City of Lodi.
There will be no overnight parking allowed on city streets, alleys or city-owned parking lots in order for road crews to clean and salt them.
City of Monona.
During declared general snow emergency, no person shall park any vehicle at any time on a designated snow emergency route and no person shall park any vehicle on any other street within the city.
Village of McFarland.
No vehicles are allowed to be parked on any village street during the snow emergency. Alternate parking is available in the municipal parking lot at the McFarland Municipal Center.
City of Stoughton.
Parking will be even/odd. This goes into effect after midnight to 8 a.m. and remains in effect until three consecutive midnight to 8 a.m. periods have elapsed.
City of Sun Prairie.
No vehicles are allowed to park on any city street for the next 48 hours, or until the streets have been cleared curb to curb. Vehicles must be moved off all city streets or they will be ticketed and towed. If citizens have any questions, they can contact the Sun Prairie Police Department at (608) 837-7336.

For more information, visit Channel 3000's Weather section.

Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.