winter weather

Roads across the Piedmont are covered in snow and ice after the region got its first taste of winter Monday evening. Many schools and business are closed today.

The system was bringing hurricane-force winds and near-white-out conditions to parts of the region, with northern Massachusetts and the Boston area particularly hard hit.

Boston has had more than 72 inches of snow in the past 30 days, breaking a record set in 1978, the National Weather Service says.

Massachusetts declared a commonwealth-wide state of emergency to allow snow removal equipment to flow into the state. By nightfall, Boston had broken a record for most snowfall in a 30-day period.

In Boston, it added to the snow already on the ground and broke a record for snowiest seven-day period. The storm was the strongest Detroit had seen since 1974.

The potentially historic nor'easter could bring more than 2 feet of snow to the region today and Tuesday. Travel is expected to be affected, with thousands of flights already canceled.

A major storm system, expected to peak Monday and Tuesday, could dump as much as two feet of snow in some areas.

A Dense Fog Advisory is in effect until 10am Thursday. A number of area schools have announced 2-hour delays. 

As temperatures hit the 50s, some stores sold out of space heaters. Some residents turned to blankets, layers of heavy clothes and thermal socks to stay warm.

With more than 5 feet already on the ground in some areas of western New York state, another 3 feet is forecast. Worse yet, warming temperatures over the weekend could turn much of it to floodwater.