Winter Storm Niko Creating Travel Headaches in Northeast, New England

How much snow did New York City get? The agency issued blizzard warnings for Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.

Many school districts already have canceled Thursday classes including New York City, Philadelphia and Boston.

Ahead of Sunday’s storm, temperatures should be in the 40s on Saturday, helping to melt the snow that blanketed New Jersey on Thursday.

Nationwide, close to 3200 flights were cancelled, according to Flightaware.com.

Accumulations range from 10 inches in Montague Township, 5 ½ in Belvidere and 2½ inches in Bridgewater.

Justin Kates, director of emergency management for Nashua, New Hampshire, where about 14 inches of snow fell Thursday, said crews had cleared major roads overnight and were working on sidewalks and residential side streets.

Noon to 3 p.m.: Snow tapers off in New Jersey and the Hudson Valley from southwest to northeast.

A Winter Storm Watch was upgraded to a Winter Storm Warning on Saturday afternoon. Wet, heavy snow is expected.

According to the National Weather Service, Manhattan had received 6 inches of snow by 10:45 a.m., with snow having begun falling shortly after midnight.

To keep people at home, many government operations were put on hold, including Maine’s state legislature and government offices in MA and CT, where only emergency workers were expected to come to work.

“A Blizzard Warning is now in effect for Nassau and Suffolk County 12-18 with heavy snowfall expected”. And while many airlines are offering to waive change fees for those looking to avoid the cancellations, it’s important to remember that airlines are not responsible for weather delays.

It’s rare for a snowstorm to hit so intensely, dumping up to a foot or more of snow, yet only last about 6 to 8 hours, and is a testament to the impressive atmospheric dynamics involved with this particular weather system.

Before turning to snow, rain coupled with high tides, forced the closure of Boston’s Morrisey Blvd.

The first snow-related death was reported in NY on Thursday when a doorman shoveling snow on the Upper East Side died after slipping and falling through a glass window, NY police said.

Motorists are encouraged to stay off the roads, as officials are expecting high-speed winds, coastal flooding and potential power outages.

Expect unsafe travel conditions, and power outages are possible.