Bombogenesis Snowfall Could Reach 18 Inches In New England

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — The Latest on massive winter storm in the Northeastern U.S. (all times local):

8:05 a.m.

Snow that could pile as high as 18 inches (46 centimeters) in some spots of New England has begun falling.

A light snow started falling in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New Hampshire just before dawn Thursday.

Snow is expected to increase after sunrise and peak during the late morning through the afternoon. Rain over Cape Cod and the Islands is likely to change over to snow in the afternoon.

The storm is not just bringing snow but high winds with gusts as high as 75 mph in some spots, which could bring down power lines and cause power outages.

There also is a risk of coastal flooding.

Schools across the region are closed for the day, and governors are urging people to stay off the roads.

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7:20 a.m.

A state of emergency is in effect on parts of Maryland's Eastern Shore in response to a coastal winter storm.

Gov. Larry Hogan issued the declaration late Wednesday for the Lower Shore, including Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties.

Ankle deep snow and wind gusts approaching 50 mph (80 kph) covered the Ocean City Boardwalk, which was under a blizzard warning Thursday.

Parts of Southern Maryland also reported significant snow accumulations.

Wind restrictions were put in place Thursday on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. The Coast Guard restricted ships from entering the Port of Baltimore.

Numerous school systems closed throughout the state, including in Baltimore City, where the teachers' union called for closures after reporting heating issues in numerous schools.

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6:50 a.m.

The Hampton Roads region of Virginia is bearing the worst of a winter storm that prompted Gov. Terry McAuliffe to declare a state of emergency.

Dominion Energy reported more than 35,000 customers in southeastern Virginia without power Thursday morning. The Northern Neck region had 635 outages, with no other significant outages in the rest of the state.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel was closed to all traffic early Thursday morning because of the weather conditions which included snow and heavy winds.

Virginia State Police reported that from 8 p.m. Wednesday through 5 a.m. Thursday, it received 212 emergency calls for service in its Chesapeake region, which includes Hampton Roads, including 101 crashes. The Richmond region reported 123 calls for service and 72 crashes.

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6:30 a.m.

State offices are closed throughout Delaware as snowfall accumulates quickly from a coastal winter storm.

The Delaware Department of Transportation reports that accumulations have exceeded six inches (15 centimeters) by early Thursday in parts of Sussex County, Delaware's southernmost county.

State offices were closed Thursday in all three Delaware counties, including the state's Department of Motor Vehicles locations.

DART bus service was suspended in Sussex County.

The Delaware River and Bay Authority suspended operations for its ferry connecting Lewes, Delaware, to Cape May, New Jersey. The authority citing significant ice accumulation in canals along the Delaware Bay, as well as forecasts for heavy winds.

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6:24 a.m.

Snow and bitter cold are sweeping across parts of Pennsylvania, causing some schools to close or delay opening.

A winter storm warning is in effect until 7 p.m. Thursday for Delaware, Philadelphia, eastern Montgomery and lower Bucks counties.

Forecasters say accumulations of 4 to 7 inches (10 to 17 centimeters) are expected. That will be following by biting cold temperatures. The central part of the state is waking to another coating of snow.

The Philadelphia school district and the city's archdiocesan schools are closed.

Amtrak says Keystone Service between Harrisburg and Philadelphia is operating as scheduled.

The region's transportation system says it's operating on a regular weekday schedule. All bus routes with the exception of Route 35 are running.

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6 a.m.

Wind-whipped snow is slowing the morning commute across New Jersey and forcing many schools to close.

A blizzard warning remains in effect until 7 p.m. Thursday along the New Jersey shore and for portions of central and southern New Jersey.

Forecasters say 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 centimeters) of snow are possible with northerly winds gusting as high as 45 to 55 mph (72 to 80 kph) along the immediate coast causing whiteout conditions.

The strong winds could down trees and power lines.

Road crews are out, but the snow continues to cover the paths that the plows have cleared.

New Jersey has authorized a two-hour delayed opening from normal start times for all non-essential state employees.

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1:15 a.m.

Residents across a huge swath of the U.S. are hunkering down, waiting out a massive winter storm packing snow, ice and high winds, followed by brutal cold, as it moves up the Eastern Seaboard.

The worst conditions stretch from the Carolinas to Maine, with the Northeast getting the brunt on Thursday.

It already has led to thousands of canceled flights and shuttered schools, as well as fears of outages and flooding.

Officials are urging residents to stay home so crews can clear streets and roads of what could be as much as foot or more of snow in some places. Boston could get as much as 14 inches.

The blast of winter weather and accompanying plunging temperatures has been linked to at least 17 deaths as far south as Texas.