Snow began falling in the Seattle area between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., and will likely continue though the morning and into the afternoon, dropping 3 to 6 inches on the metropolitan area, according to the Weather Service.

Cold, dry air moving down from British Columbia is likely to keep snowfall totals lower than original forecasts, which had called for up to 14 inches of snow, said meteorologist Dustin Guy. The layer of cold air is close to the surface, and tends to reduce the moisture produced by the wet weather system, which is moving up from the southwest.

In fact, the heaviest snowfall totals early Wednesday were reported in the I-5 corridor between Olympia and Longview, where 12 to 15 inches of snow had fallen by 6:30 a.m.

Brad Colman of the Weather Service said the total in that area could reach 20 inches before snowfall is expected to taper off this afternoon.

In the Seattle area, snowfall should taper off in the afternoon, although there could be lingering showers through the evening, guy said.

Temperatures in the Central Puget Sound area may stay just below freezing during the day Wednesday, dipping into the 20s Wednesday night.

Thursday is expected to bring a mix of rain and snow as the region gradually warms, and by Friday, rain is expected throughout the area as temperatures climb into the 40s.

See our snow story from overnight.