A higher than predicted snowfall created a messy afternoon commute in the tri-town Thursday.

Initial reports called for 3 to 4 inches of snow ending by the afternoon. Instead, the National Weather Service extended a winter storm watch to 7 p.m. Town and commercial plow trucks attempted to keep the roads clear as snowfall totals were adjusted to a high of 6 inches.

In Rochester, Police Chief Paul Magee reported there were four minor accidents due to the weather. Two accidents were reported on High Street. Accidents also occurred on New Bedford Road and Mattapoisett Road.

No injuries were reported as a result of the accidents, Magee said.

Mattapoisett police said there were no accidents reported in town as of 5 p.m. Thursday.

Marion police were unavailable for comment.

The steady snowfall slowed traffic on Route 6 from late afternoon into early evening. Private plows could be seen struggling to clear parking lots of businesses near the intersection of Route 6 and North Street in Mattapoisett.

Several meetings were postponed because of the weather, including a public hearing in Mattapoisett and a Rochester School Committee meeting.