Overnight, 3-6 inches of snow blanketed southeast Michigan making morning commutes to work Thursday treacherous and closing hundreds of schools and districts, including the Detroit Public Schools, the largest one in the state.

In Royal Oak, the official snow total is 4.5 inches. Areas in southern zones, like Grosse Pointe Farms in Wayne County, was predicted to reach accumulations between 3 to 6 inches, and officially snow totaled 4 inches.

A winter storm watch is usually issued when a storm system is one to two days from starting. This long lead time is used to help you get ready if you have to make travel or work changes. Eventually as the storm gets closer, the winter storm watch either turns to a winter storm warning or a winter weather advisory.