By Paul Walsh

Star Tribune

Several inches of snow in the Twin Cities should start falling late in the afternoon Tuesday, potentially creating trouble for the evening commute, the National Weather Service said.

How much the metro area and other parts of the state get varies greatly, the weather service added.

For the metro area, the forecast is calling for a total of 4 to 6 inches. To the west and north, the depths should range from 8 to 12. To the southwest and south, 1 to 4 inches.

Any schools closing Tuesday because of the snow? Of course. Alexandria, Little Falls and Browerville are just some of the districts that have told the kids to endure yet one more snow day on this very wintry of winters. Wheaton and Sauk Centre are among those waiting things out for a couple of hours before convening classes.

Some communities were already reporting measurable snow depths Tuesday morning, the weather service said. Carlos, just north of Alexandria, has checked in with 5 inches so far. Little Falls and Finlayson have seen 4 inches, Mora 2.5 and Hinckley 2.

Twin Cities temperatures are projected to reach the upper 30s from Tuesday through Friday, with lows no chillier than the upper teens. That’s below average on both ends of the spectrum.