FARGO - Heavy snow led to a lazy day for students and a crazy day for law enforcement officials. "We're having the same problem we've been having all winter," Highway Patrol Sgt. Mark Geiss said Friday afternoon. "People have been driving too fast for the conditions."

Northeastern North Dakota received the brunt of the storm, with up to a foot of snow falling in Steele County, said Deputy Sheriff Matt Johansen. The sun was shining by Friday afternoon, he said.

"It looks like we were in that small band of heavy snow," Johansen said. The county pulled its plows in the morning when operators couldn't keep up with the snow.

Geiss said law enforcement officers spent "the whole day" helping people out of the ditch. One car rear-ended a semitrailer near the Nelson-Grand Forks county line on U.S. Highway 2.

"Snow fog," Geiss said, explaining the accident. "That passing lane has been snow covered and when those big 18 wheelers kick up the snow, it's pretty easy to lose vision."

Late in the day, Geiss drove Interstate 29 from Cavalier to Grand Forks and reported scattered icy spots but good visibility.

Many schools in eastern North Dakota delayed classes in the morning, then called them off when the snow continued. No travel was advised in parts of Pembina, Steele, Nelson and Grand Forks counties.

"It was kind of like a wall of snow," said Margo Vasicek, office manager for the Nelson County sheriff in Lakota.

In Barnes County, Sheriff Randy McClaflin said travel was slowed by a semi rollover along Interstate 94 east of Valley City.

McClaflin said the truck driver was taken to the hospital with head injuries. His condition was not known.

About 11 inches of snow fell in Mayville and Maddock, said Gary Votaw, National Weather Service meteorologist. Winter weather alerts continued into the evening, with the forecast for strong winds.

"The wind is the question," Votaw said Friday evening. "It wouldn't take much to cause visibility problems."

Conditions were expected to improve overnight, he said.