MARSHALL — Mayor Bob Byrnes says the city is prepared for Winter Storm Olive.

“The fortunate thing, if there is a fortunate thing about this storm, is that it is very well forecasted,” Byrnes said.

Both the public and the city have had a chance to get ready, he said. Snow emergencies have been proclaimed in Marshall and surrounding communities

Byrnes said Marshall Public Works was “very well prepared” for the winter storm, and snowplow crews would be on duty.

“We’ve been through some big storms before,” Byrnes said, but the challenge with this one is that it is expected to last for a couple days, he said.

The first wave of a major winter storm predicted to blow through southwest Minnesota hit Tuesday, sending many people home from work or school.

A blizzard warning will be in effect in parts of southwest Minnesota from 6 a.m. today until noon Thursday, the National Weather Service said. Total snow accumulations of 13 to 22 inches are expected with this storm, as well as 50 mile-an-hour wind gusts causing blizzard conditions. In addition to creating hazardous travel conditions, the wind will bring chills as low as 30 degrees below zero, according to the National Weather Service.

On Tuesday, Lyon County highway engineer Aaron VanMoer said the county was also preparing for the storm. VanMoer told county commissioners that repairs were underway on some county snow removal vehicles — there were five trucks down, but they hoped to have three running by the end of Tuesday, he said.

VanMoer said the county has a total of four motor graders, 10 snowplows and two backup trucks it uses for snow removal.

Area residents have been preparing for the blizzard as well. Mark Patzer said the phones at Patzer’s Hardware Hank in Marshall were busy on Tuesday. Plus, customers had been coming in looking for supplies like shovels and ice melt since around Friday.

“When they talk about it for a week, it gives everyone time to prepare,” he said.

Patzer said supplies of shovels and de-icer were still looking good in spite of the demand. However, supplying power equipment was more of a challenge by this part of the season.

After December’s winter storms, there was a big demand for snowblower repairs and service, Patzer said. Fortunately, he said, Patzer’s had time to catch up during January.

Falling snow started to reduce visibility in the Marshall area around noon. However, the National Weather Service said the brunt of the snow and wind expected with the winter storm would come Wednesday into Thursday.

Area schools dismissed students early on Tuesday, and some businesses and community buildings announced they would be closing down during the snowstorm. Avera and Access Health Clinics said they would be closed Wednesday and part of Thursday, and both the Marshall-Lyon County Library and Turkey Valley Farms announced they would be closed both days.

Area cities including Balaton, Lucan, Marshall and Minneota also declared their own snow emergencies that will be in effect this week. Marshall’s snow removal emergency will take effect beginning at noon today, and will end at noon Friday unless renewed.

“We really try to us these emergency declarations only when absolutely necessary,” Byrnes said.

Snow removal will start with downtown areas and emergency snow routes, and then move to major streets and intersections, and finally residential areas. Vehicles parked on the street during a snow emergency may be ticketed and towed.