Nearly four inches of snow fell in New Ulm early Thursday morning, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

Derken said had shoveled more snow Thursday then all of last winter.

“Last winter I didn’t have to do anything,” she said. “I wait and let it thaw.”

Derken suspected the waiting for a thaw method was not going to work this time. She and other New Ulm residents were busy clearing out paths from their homes, believing the snow was here to stay.

Jen Derksen shovels her sidewalk along State Street Thursday morning. Derksen said this is the most shoveling she has done in two years. Last winter she never had to shovel. “It is late December, I can’t really complain.”

Some residents waited to begin clearing snow paths until later in the day. Tom Harmer on Summit Street limited his snow removal to single path down his driveway for the dog to use. Harmer said there was no point in using his snowblower on the entire driveway since it more snow as anticipated later in the day.

Harmer said it was the first time he used his snowblower in nearly two years. He did not need it last winter due to minimal snow.

“I didn’t miss it,” he said.

Harmer is originally from Virginia. He moved to New Ulm five years ago and is not looking forward to another snowy winter.

The snow caused some several area school districts to close late Thursday morning or early Thursday afternoon.

Sue Marti shovels the driveway while Eddie Portner plows the street in front of their Summit Street home following Thursday’s snow storm.

Sleepy Eye Public School closed at 11:30 a.m. Thursday. Afternoon activities were not held.

Springfield Public and parochial Schools closed at 1 p.m. Thursday. No afternoon pre-school and other activities were held.

Snowfall was a bit heavier to the north. Henderson received 5.6 inches as of 7 a.m. Thursday.

The Minnesota State Patrol reported 91 crashes between midnight and 8:30 a.m. Thursday. Twenty-eight vehicles went off state roadways. There were five jackknifed semis and several spinouts.

NWS Meteorologist Paige Veserat in Chanhassen said cold weather will follow the snow. Friday’s high temperature in New Ulm will be 10 degrees. Saturday’s high is forecast at 22.

“We’ll get above normal temperatures from Monday, Dec. 23 into the first few days of January,” she said.

Forecast highs are 32 degrees Sunday, Dec. 22, 30 on Dec. 23 and back to 32 on Christmas Eve. New Ulm’s Christmas Day high is forecast at 37 degrees. After that highs are 38 on Dec. 26-27 and 39 on Dec. 28. Light showers are forecast for Dec. 27-28.

Average highs and lows for this time of year are 27 and 13 degrees.