Freezing rain has made for a messy morning commute and prompted dozens of school districts to close for the day. But the rain is expected to lighten as the day progresses, meteorologists with the National Weather Service said Thursday.

It’s been a busy winter for metro Detroit road crews who are preparing yet again for what could be another slick commute.

A swath of Southeast Michigan was under a winter weather advisory until 9 a.m. Thursday, with snow, sleet and freezing rain was forecasted, forcing more than two dozen school districts, including Detroit,