MILWAUKEE (AP) — A powerful winter storm with heavy snow and ice created dangerous travel conditions, closed scores of schools and caused numerous crashes and spin-outs in the Upper Midwest on Tuesday.

Although the weather was less severe in the southern Upper Peninsula, snow totals of 7 to 11 inches were predicted for the Marquette area, the National Weather Service said.

In Minnesota, snow continued to mount, with more than 17 inches of snow recorded south of downtown Duluth. Minneapolis and St. Paul declared snow emergencies to help clear roads.

A serious multi-vehicle crash involving three semi-trailer trucks and two cars shut down Interstate-35W near Elko New Market, south of Minneapolis.

Ice from freezing rain and sleet was expected to make travel difficult in southeastern Wisconsin through Tuesday night.

The National Weather Service posted an ice storm warning for several northern Lower Peninsula counties including the cities of Traverse City, Kalkaska and Grayling through midnight Tuesday night.