Four inches of snow that accumulated Tuesday may be just the beginning, as the National Weather Service forecasts more snow for later in the week.

The amount of snow that hit DeKalb was a surprise to NIU staff meteorologist Gilbert Sebenste.

“It was way higher than we expected,” Sebenste said. “Now we will get very cold air from north Canada and Alaska.”

A freezing drizzle, rain not cold enough to turn into snow, occurred for about two hours before the snow came, Sebenste said.

DeKalb prepared for the snowfall by having all 16 of the city’s snowplows on the streets at about 4 a.m. Tuesday and enacting the emergency snow routes at 7 a.m.

“We were expecting it for a day or so. The weather service forecasted 1 to 3 inches,” said Mike Espy, an assistant director of DeKalb Public Works.

DeKalb Public Works called in two additional trucks from the water department to help after the initial snowfall ended.

“We’ve been so short on help, so more and more every year, we are relying on subdivisions for help,” Espy said.

There were no serious traffic accidents because of the snowfall, said Lt. Jim Kayes of the DeKalb Police Department, but there were several relatively minor accidents reported.

Snow emergency routes automatically go into effect after 2 or more inches of snow and ice accumulate between 6 a.m and 11 p.m. daily. Parking on snow routes is prohibited until public works issues a public announcement. A ticket for parking on a snow route can cost $25 to $75, plus towing and storage fees.

During snowfall and immediately afterward, city trucks focus on clearing the main streets first. Once clear, the focus moves to clearing the residential streets, Espy said.