Winter storms expected to bring lake-effect snow

The forecast is for heavy snow, with an accumulation of 12-18 inches with the low risk for isolated amounts up to 2 feet.

While the NY subway and bus services were operating, much of the city remained quiet, with schools, shops and businesses largely closed as workers shovelled snow.

Other leaders in the northeast warned their residents in preparation for the storm.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency for the entire state and instructed non-essential state employees to stay home.

Almost 7,000 flights were canceled on Monday and Tuesday across the northeast in anticipation of the weather, according to flight tracker FlightAware.

As of 9 p.m. Sunday, 44 flights were canceled at O’Hare International Airport and 11 were canceled at Midway International Airport, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation. The storm is expected to dump as much as two feet of snow in suburbs of New York City and in New England. Wind gusts up to 40 miles per hour are possible. More than 60,000 electric customers lost power during the storm in MA, the state’s emergency management agency said.

Millions of people living along the East Coast will face temperatures 10 to 25 degrees below average, wind gusts of 30 miles per hour (50 kph) and slick roads and sidewalks as they return to work and school on Wednesday, it added.

As the snowstorm approached Monday night, many East Coasters rushed to grocery stores to stock up on necessities and prepared for at least one snow day.

– In Connecticut, a statewide travel ban was scheduled to go into effect Tuesday at 5 a.m.

School districts in neighboring Maryland and Virginia were closed.

Thompson says across northern Rhode Island, winds may not be as high but could still create blizzard conditions.

Warnings to use caution came from public officials up and down the East Coast – including the President. And most Amtrak service is suspended in the region.

The airline said: “Customers booked to travel to, from and through Boston, Washington, New York – JFK and Newark on 15 – 17 March 2017, who prefer to rebook may do so without penalty”. Baltimore was looking at 6-10 inches; Washington, 4-8 inches.

In Massachusetts, its governor said the state expects sleet, rain and extremely cold temperatures along the coast.

“The Lorain County area is going to start seeing snow Monday afternoon”, Clark said.