With predictions of snow and wind that could snarl traffic and knock out electricity to millions, more than 60 million people were under winter warnings.
The forecast is still on course for a major winter storm on Wednesday and Thursday to strike the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast America, and New England.
On Tuesday evening, winter weather advisories or alerts ranged from northeastern Georgia and western North Carolina to New York City and areas of Maine, and forecasters warned of heavy snow and freezing rain.
On Tuesday, the storm brought snow and slick roads to the Plains, although the National Weather Service said it was set to taper off there on Tuesday night.
Oklahoma City recorded 2.7 inches of snow, and on Tuesday morning, the Nebraska State Patrol confirmed “plenty of slide-offs on I-80” and advised drivers to be alert.
The hurricane will hit the East Coast on Wednesday.
From western North Carolina to northern Virginia, a winter mix will break out during the morning, while snow fills in from Maryland to southern New York.
The storm will march north along the corridor of I-95 as the day progresses, bringing with it a mess of rain or snow and also the possibility for some sleet and freezing rain.
Heavy rain and powerful thunderstorms could impact the Southeast to the coastal Carolinas on the southern side of the storm system.
For cities such as Washington and Philadelphia, a wintery mix will be possible by Wednesday night, while New York City and Boston are likely to remain mainly snowy.
Heavy snowfall rates of 1-3 inches per hour are feasible, even for the New York City area, and whiteout conditions and the possibility of power outages may be caused by raging winds.
By Thursday, for the Northeast and New England, the snow is expected to persist through the morning hours and will end by sunset for all areas except eastern Maine.
All packages are to be delayed from delivering just days before Christmas, though UPS and FedEx are determined to deliver the parcels on time.
The citizens are advised to use the pick-up option, where they would op to physically have their parcel sent to them through a third-party carrier like Uber, or they could pick their stuff in-stores.
Source: NBC