Northeast states prepare for overnight snowstorm

NEW YORK -- States across the Northeast were preparing Sunday for a snowstorm that could disrupt commutes this morning.

A winter storm warning is in effect until 7 a.m. today in New York City, the lower Hudson Valley, northeastern New Jersey, and southwest and coastal Connecticut. The storm dropped several inches of snow on the Midwest and is expected to layer 5 to 8 inches on much of the Northeast, with northern New England anticipating up to 10 inches.

The Federal Aviation Administration was reporting delays at Newark International Airport in New Jersey averaging 2 hours as of Sunday evening. Philadelphia International Airport was experiencing delays of just under an hour, the administration reported.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency for all 21 counties, where the National Weather Service is predicting 4 to 8 inches of snow. In New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio said schools will be closed today and alternate side parking has been suspended today and Tuesday. Many other schools in the Northeast have canceled classes.

"We are advising all New Yorkers to avoid all unnecessary travel and stay off the roads. If you must travel, use mass transit," New York City Emergency Management commissioner Joseph Esposito said.

In Pennsylvania, forecasters warned travel "could be very difficult" with snowfall rates of up to an inch an hour Sunday night. Forecasters expected as much as 7 inches in parts of Lancaster and York counties with 3 to 6 inches elsewhere in parts of central and northeastern Pennsylvania, and several inches in western Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Pennsylvania Turnpike announced restrictions on commercial vehicles.

Up to 8 inches of snow had fallen in parts of far western Kansas by Sunday morning. But most areas of Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri and Illinois that were within the path of the storm had gotten no more than a few inches of snow. Forecasters warned the Midwest could see bitter cold after the storm, as an arctic air mass moves into the central U.S. The National Weather Service said wind chills could drop below minus-20 in eastern Nebraska this morning.