NIU is bracing for a visit this week by winter’s own Horsemen of the Apocalypse—snow and below zero temperatures.

DeKalb might get more than six inches of snow by the end of today from the first significant snowfall of the season.

Although light snow was expected in Monday’s forecast, the storm picked up, said NIU Weather Office Forecaster Dean Wysocki.

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning Monday for the DeKalb and Rockford area in effect until 11 p.m. last night.

“We expect a lot of blowing and drifting followed by some of the coldest air this season after the storm pulls out,” Wysocki said.

Winds are expected to die down by Wednesday night after the storm leaves, but temperatures could plunge to below zero for a day or two followed by a slight warming later in the week.

Wysocki said although this much snow usually isn’t expected until later in the month, a storm that hit a year ago Monday buried Dubuque, Iowa, under a foot of snow and left three or four inches in DeKalb.

NIU Grounds Foreman Tom Anderson said crews were salting Monday and gearing up for snow removal, which begins with sidewalks, streets and fire lanes after two inches of accumulation.