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Mother Nature isn't quite ready to concede that winter's over, at least in the Northland.

By Tuesday evening, schools in Duluth and Superior, Wis., had announced that they would be closed Wednesday. Forecasters are predicting a foot or more of snow in some areas near Lake Superior.

The rain is expected to change to heavy, wet snow early Wednesday in Duluth and surrounding areas. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for much of northeastern Minnesota and northern Wisconsin, with up to 15 inches of snow expected in some places.

The heaviest snow — along with thunder — is expected in late morning and early afternoon, tapering off into Thursday.

In the Twin Cities metro area, there's a winter weather advisory; the forecast calls for rain, rain and more rain, with a little snow mixed in Wednesday night and Thursday night. But temperatures in the high 30s and low 40s, means that snowfall of a quarter-inch to a half-inch isn't expected to hang around long.

The Weather Service said 47.7 inches of snow has fallen this season at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, the official measuring spot. That is 16.5 inches below normal but about 20 inches more than last year. The snow depth on Tuesday: Zero.

Duluth has seen 73.2 inches of snow, almost 16 inches below normal.