The Milwaukee area and much of eastern Wisconsin saw their first snowfall of the season, while heavy, wet snow fell during the Thursday morning commute.

Five to four inches of snow is possible in some areas, especially in areas further from Lake Michigan.

Many parts of the state are under a winter weather advisory until late this morning due to hazardous driving conditions. The advisory is in effect from 6 a.m. to noon from Sheboygan through Kenosha counties, including Milwaukee County, and into western Iowa and Lafayette counties.

“There’s an area of ​​intense snowfall, and it’s rolling into the eastern half of the state,” said Marcia Cronce, meteorologist with the Milwaukee-Sullivan National Weather Service. She said the snowfall will be heaviest in the Milwaukee area between about 7 and 8 a.m

“Then it will snow for another hour or two, and then it will turn to rain,” she continued.

The weather service warns that roads, especially bridges and overpasses, will be “slippery and dangerous” during the snowfall due to slush accumulations. The agency is advising people to take their first steps on outdoor stairs, sidewalks and driveways Thursday morning because “these surfaces can be icy and slippery, increasing the risk of falls and injury.”

In addition, strong winds with gusts of up to 70 km/h are forecast in some areas across the region into the evening, leading to reduced visibility for motorists, sideways falling snow and possible fallen tree branches. Winds will start in a westerly direction in the morning and are expected to shift to the northwest and then north by the afternoon, Cronce said.

When it comes to the Thursday morning commute, “please allow extra time to reach your destination,” Crone said. ‘Don’t follow too close to other cars. Slow down and postpone your trip if you can.”

When and how much will it snow in Milwaukee and Wisconsin?

Snow is forecast in the Milwaukee area from 6 a.m. to noon, with the heaviest snowfall expected between about 7 and 8 a.m. Areas further south will see the heaviest snow between about 8 and 9 a.m

By the afternoon the snow will turn to rain. The heavier rainfall is expected to taper off around 3 p.m., with showers continuing through the evening, Cronce said. The accumulated snow should melt in the afternoon rain.

“So the morning commute is very dangerous, and the evening commute should be fine,” Cronce said.

Communities along Lake Michigan are expected to see lower snow totals, she added. “Inland from the lake you can see five to four inches. And in the Kettle Moraine area, like Washington and Waukesha counties, you can see two to four inches, locally as much as five.”

Update of the first snow road conditions

The city of Milwaukee said its crews are conducting a “general ice control operation,” ensuring roadways are “safe and passable” as snow continues in the area.

Traffic is backed up and several incidents were reported in the Milwaukee area Thursday morning. Here’s the last of it 511wi.gov from 7.30 am:

• Traffic slowed along much of I-43 from Sheboygan to Milwaukee

• Traffic slowed significantly along much of I-94, especially near Delafield and between Pewaukee and the Milwaukee County Zoo

• Traffic slowed along much of I-41, and significantly in some places

• Traffic slowed along Highway 16 between Oconomowoc and Waukesha

• Crash on I-43 North at Hampton A. East. The left shoulder is blocked as a result of a fall from 7:23 am

• Crash on the ramp from Hampton Ave to I-41/US 45 South. Last updated at 7:20 am

• Disabled vehicle on the Burleigh St ramp to I-41/US 45 North. Last updated at 7:15 am

• I-41/US 45 North CLOSED at North Ave due to a disabled vehicle. From 7:31 am

• I-94 West 1.3 miles past Ramp from WIS 100. The right shoulder is blocked due to a crash as of 7:22 a.m.

• I-94 West at Ramp from Moreland Blvd East. The right shoulder is blocked due to a fall. From 7:37 am

• Ramp from I-94 East to I-43/94 South closed due to a disabled vehicle. From 7.43 am

• WIS 38 South at Air Cargo Way. The right lane is closed due to an accident. From 7.42 am

For the most up-to-date map of road closures, traffic and accidents, visit 511wi.gov.

Weather warnings for Wisconsin

Weather radar in Wisconsin

This article originally appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wet, heavy snow prompts winter weather advisories in Milwaukee and Wisconsin