By MIKE CORN

mcorn@dailynews.net

ELLIS -- When the forecast Monday started calling for as much as a foot of snow, Chris and Michele Kingsley decided it was time to start rounding up their cows, and especially the young calves at their side.

This morning, Kingsley's herd was seeking any shelter they could find.

School systems are doing much the same, as many throughout northwest Kansas have either canceled or are starting classes later than normal.

And it's only going to get worse.

Already, 41âÑ2 inches of snow had fallen in the area, and there's a promise that more will fall throughout the day. Forecasters still are calling for anywhere from 6 to 10 inches of snow in the area -- with 8 inches as the forecast target for Hays.

As the front moves through, however, conditions will turn from bad to worse, as strong winds will start gusting, blowing snow and reducing visibility to near zero in some spots.

All that could start in about 3 p.m., according to Jennifer Ritterling, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Dodge City.

Anticipating bad weather, Chris Kingsley said he didn't want to leave his cowherd stranded in an unprotected field of uncut milo. The milo, he said, had looked promising, but was cut short on maturity by cold weather.

But it provides no cover, so he decided to run them a mile north to a corral and the promise of shelter from a shed and stacked bales of hay.

Cattle won't be the only ones seeking shelter as the day goes on.

While snow already is falling, the forecast is for much more to fall as the day goes on.

In the Hays area, there might be a lull in the snow by midday, but it will pick back up and start snowing again.

As the storm system passes through, the winds will pick up and start blowing around all of the snow that fell.

If there's a saving grace, the forecast isn't quite as bad as had been forecast initially.

On Monday, the outlook was for perhaps as much as a foot of snow, and near-blizzard conditions.

Now, winds might be in the 25 to 35 mph range, well short of the 35 mph sustained winds that are needed to qualify as being a blizzard.

"It doesn't look quite as bad," Ritterling said. "But still."

On Monday, she said, "we were on the fence whether it was going to be a blizzard or not."

As the snow is falling, she said, the wind should remain fairly light, perhaps in the 10 mph range.

In the Dodge City area, the snow already has tapered off a bit, she said.

"You've still got quite a bit coming," she said of the Hays area.

Hays won't be alone, as the heavy snow is forecast for much of the area along and north of Interstate 70, which was completely snowpacked this morning.

Roads are snowpacked as well in Colby, according to Trooper Tod Hileman, who took to the interstate this morning.

Traffic so far has been relatively light, he said, and there's not been a rash of accidents.

While Hileman said no roads have been closed, once the winds pick up that might change the situation facing motorists.

"Right now at Colby, it's snowing," he said. "It's a beautiful light snow falling."

But he's hoping traffic remains light.

"I'm hoping people made the smart decision and canceled their travel plans," he said.

Winds will be strongest to the west of Hays, where considerable snow is being forecast as well.

Only about 2 inches of snow had fallen in Goodland, according to meteorologist Mike Lammers.

"The heaviest stuff is still west of us," he said. "Yet to come."

Goodland is only expected to receive 4 to 8 inches of snow, while snowfall to the east of Kansas Highway 25 will be in the 6- to 10-inch range.

When the winds start, Lammer said, the snow will start blowing.

"This stuff will blow out pretty good," he said. "Today is not a good day to be out and about."