For all of you affected, I hope it passes quickly. Stay safe and warm.
Jim (Muaythaiguy)
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - A storm building along the East Coast piled snow 8 inches deep and closed schools Monday morning in the central Appalachians and storm warnings were posted as far north as Maine.
Schools were closed because of slippery roads or in anticipation of worsening weather in parts of western North Carolina, eastern Kentucky, Virginia, Pennsylvania and 20 of West Virginia's 55 counties.
Eight inches of snow had accumulated in southwest Virginia's Bland County, and more was expected. Ten inches or more was forecast in West Virginia's mountain counties, and up to 14 inches of snow was possible through Tuesday in the Poconos of northeastern Pennsylvania, the National Weather Service said.
New York City commuters were warned that snow could fall heavily beginning during the Monday evening rush hour. Up to 8 inches was forecast in Philadelphia and Boston, the weather service said.
Motorists were urged to stay off highways in West Virginia's northern mountains during the night because of the likelihood of heavy snow driven by gusty wind.
The area of low pressure driving the storm had swept up the coast from Florida, where a small tornado touched down Sunday at the city of Palm Bay, destroying at least 14 homes and injuring at least five people. Some of the damaged homes had been repaired after hurricanes Charley, Jeanne and Frances struck last summer.
