After a morning commute with dry roads, snow and slush returned to metro area freeways and highways just before lunch time Wednesday, and so did a string of crashes and spinouts.

Slick conditions slowed traffic and kept the State Patrol busy through the midday hours and into the afternoon Wednesday. At 12:40 p.m., the patrol was responding to seven crashes reported in the metro area.

With snow and freezing drizzle expected through the evening rush hour and into Thursday morning, drivers can expect another slow roll home.

Thursday morning's rush hour could be complicated by patch fog, the National Weather Service said.

This is the sixth straight day that some form of precipation has fallen in the Twin Cities. Friday looks to be sunny with a high of 30 degrees before another storm system brings another round of snow, rain and freezing rain Saturday and Sunday, the weather service said.