The decision to cancel classes beginning at 3 p.m. or after during Monday’s snowstorms was not a knee-jerk response to the weather conditions.

Dave Petrovich, forecaster for the National Weather Service is Rockford, said the storm was all but over after NIU President John LaTourette’s office cancelled the late afternoon and evening classes.

The decision was made after La Tourette, Provost Kendall Baker and James Harder, vice president of Business and Operations, met early in the morning and discussed the snow.

Although they had heard the significant snow had passed, Baker said the decision was made after officials heared there might be heavy accumulation throughout the day and could hinder students getting to their evening classes.

“In this situation, our primary concern is with individuals and our staff coming to their night classes and three o’clock is the period when these begin. That is why we started the cancellations at three,” he said.

“We try to provide everyone with as much notice as possible,” he said.

Petrovich said only a few flurries are expected in the DeKalb area for the rest of the week.

Forecasters said the northern Illinois area withstood strong wnd gusts from the north of 25 to 40 mph with occasional gusts of powerful 50 mph winds. But there will be a slight warming trend during the rest of the week.

Petrovich said the storm was a result of a low pressure system that went through Wyoming on Saturday and from there linked up with another low pressure system in the southern plains.

Monday, “that same low pressure system moved through central Illinois and the snowfall was a result,” he said.

Tom Anderson, NIU grounds superintendent, said the campus plowing was pretty much under control.

“If the snow gets bad enough, someone will contact me to get my men out there,” he said.

The Huskie Bus System ran during its regular intervals up until 5:15 p.m. Monday. It then changed to its weekend service route.

“The buses ran pretty smoothly Monday in spite of the storm,” said Charles Batista, Huskie Bus Line manager. “A couple of the lines were delayed two to five minutes, but that is a typical delay when snow is involved.”

Roger Chilton, DeKalb assistant director of public works for operations and maintenance, said 11 street plows, three smaller plows and two enloaders were sent out to the streets Sunday night at 11 p.m. and worked non-stop until 4 p.m. Monday.

Chilton said some salt was poured on the streets, but the majority of the ice melted by itself.