Staff photo by Fritz Busch Brenda Guldan of rural New Ulm shovels snow in front of the Breath of Life Gathering Center, 226 North Minnesota Street North Friday. The building formerly housed Wells Fargo Bank.

NEW ULM — About an inch of light snow blanketed the area Friday morning, bringing out state and county snowplows in the New Ulm area.

Official daily snow amounts were not released by the National Weather Service (NWS) Friday, but Chanhassen Meteorologist Joe Strus said a few communities reported snow amounts at early as 7 a.m.

“New Ulm reported about three-quarters of an inch by 8 a.m. An inch was reported near Glencoe. About a half inch of snow was reported near St. Peter at 7 a.m.,” said Strus. “Snow should wind down Friday but there may be slick spots on roads.”

Snow is forecast in the area Saturday, from late morning through midnight.

The NWS issued a Winter Weather Advisory from Saturday noon to midnight. Three to 5 inches of snow are forecast in Blue Earth, Brown, Faribault, Freeborn, Martin, Nicollet, Steele, Waseca, Watonwan, Redwood and Yellow Medicine Counties.

Strus said the heaviest snow may fall south of New Ulm, perhaps near Interstate 90 near Fairmont.

The advisory advised motorists and pedestrians to plan on slippery road conditions.

Saturday’s forecast high for New Ulm is 20 degrees.

“Then it gets colder Sunday into Monday morning,” said Strus. “Another shot of mixed rain, snow, sleet, rain and freezing could fall next Tuesday into Wednesday. It could get as warm as 36 degrees during that time.”

He predicted more snow and colder than normal weather through much of the rest of December.

“The December average high temperature is in the lower 30s to upper 20s by the end of the month,” said Strus. “Normal December lows are in the upper teens to lower teens later in the month. It looks like more of a normal winter this year with snowy, colder weather. Some of our meteorologists are pretty confident we will be near the average winter snowfall of 52 inches, or exceed it.”

For road conditions, call 511 or visit 511.org.