Snow falls on DC as first winter storm moves up the east coast

Winter Storm Avery has struck New York City, continuing up the East Coast and causing travel chaos and school closures after killing at least five.

More than 80 million people braced for the Arctic blast on Thursday as winter storm alerts were issued from St Louis through the Appalachian Mountains to New York and New England.

Nearly half a million people across the Midwest, mid-Atlantic and Northeast were left without power after the storm struck last night.

The storm was forecast to dump as much as six inches on parts of New England, while in the Midwest the St Louis area saw the highest accumulation with up to eight inches of snow on Thursday morning.

The storm has already wreaked havoc on roads in the South, where icy roads led to fatal crashes in Mississippi and Arkansas on Wednesday night. 

New York: A man sits under an umbrella during a snowstorm in Times Square in New York City on Thursday

Washington DC: Snow falls on the White House on Thursday morning. A pre-winter storm is moving up the East Coast

Washington DC: Snow falls on the White House on Thursday morning. A pre-winter storm is moving up the East Coast

Philadelphia: A person walks in view of Independence Hall during a snow storm in Philadelphia on Thursday

Philadelphia: A person walks in view of Independence Hall during a snow storm in Philadelphia on Thursday

New Jersey: A delivery man makes his way through wintry weather in Mt. Holly on Thursday. New Jerseyans are dealing with their first taste of wintry weather this season. A mix of rain, sleet and snow started falling late Thursday morning

New Jersey: A delivery man makes his way through wintry weather in Mt. Holly on Thursday. New Jerseyans are dealing with their first taste of wintry weather this season. A mix of rain, sleet and snow started falling late Thursday morning

A radar map shows the precipitation mix over the East Coast and Upper Midwest as of Thursday

A radar map shows the precipitation mix over the East Coast and Upper Midwest as of Thursday

FlightAware's 'Misery Map' shows airline delays and cancellations piling up on the East Cost as the storm strikes

FlightAware’s ‘Misery Map’ shows airline delays and cancellations piling up on the East Cost as the storm strikes

The forecast calls for one to two inches of snow, as well as some sleet and rain, in the New York City and Long Island regions. Upstate New York will see heavier accumulation, with four to six inches in places.

New Yorkers braced for commuter misery on the way home, as officials warned drivers to travel with extreme caution.

‘Early winter weather is moving through the state this week and I urge New Yorkers to be prepared and to use caution when driving due to reduced visibility and possible black ice,’ New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said in a statement. ‘We are watching these weather systems and stand ready to assist our local partners as needed.’ 

Airline chaos rippled across the country, with at least 132 flight cancellations and 874 delays as of Thursday afternoon.

Washington DC-area airports led the pack in cancellations, with 25 flights canceled at Baltimore-Washington International and 15 at Ronald Reagan.

In New York, 22 flights were cancelled at Newark Liberty, 14 at JFK and 12 at LaGuardia.

In DC, winter misery arrived just in time for the morning commute, with the snowfall snarling traffic and prompting school closures. A mix of snow, sleet and rain is expected there throughout the day. 

Secret Service Uniformed Division officers and their dog walk past the White House during the first snow of the season

Secret Service Uniformed Division officers and their dog walk past the White House during the first snow of the season

White House Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley takes pictures at the White House in a light snow in Washington DC

White House Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley takes pictures at the White House in a light snow in Washington DC

Gidley takes careful steps while returning to the West Wing as snow and sleet from Winter Storm Avery covers the ground at the White House on Thursday in Washington, DC. The storm forced schools to close or delay opening in the area

Gidley takes careful steps while returning to the West Wing as snow and sleet from Winter Storm Avery covers the ground at the White House on Thursday in Washington, DC. The storm forced schools to close or delay opening in the area

Grounds of the White House are seen covered in snow in the photo taken by the administration's staff

Grounds of the White House are seen covered in snow in the photo taken by the administration’s staff

A tiny snowman sits on a ledge in a light snow at the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC on Thursday

A tiny snowman sits on a ledge in a light snow at the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC on Thursday

A bicycle commuter rides to work on a fresh coat of snow in front of the US Capitol in Washington, DC on Thursday

A bicycle commuter rides to work on a fresh coat of snow in front of the US Capitol in Washington, DC on Thursday

A groundskeeper clears slush and snow during a winter storm on Capitol Hill, on Thursday in Washington DC

A groundskeeper clears slush and snow during a winter storm on Capitol Hill, on Thursday in Washington DC

A cyclist passes by the Lincoln Memorial during the year's first snowfall in Washington DC, on Thursday

A cyclist passes by the Lincoln Memorial during the year’s first snowfall in Washington DC, on Thursday

As the storm hit with Thanksgiving still a week away, school districts closed or sent students home early across the lower Great Lakes and the Northeast. 

The University of Connecticut canceled classes starting at 3:30 p.m. or later at its main campus, satellite campuses and law school. 

About a dozen school districts in New Jersey and others in Connecticut decided to send students home early.  

Hundreds of schools in the central U.S. closed Thursday morning, with as much as eight inches blanketing the St Louis area by the early afternoon.

In Indianapolis, the National Weather Service issued an ice storm warning. The state’s largest school district, Indianapolis Public Schools, closed classes citing ‘dangerously slick road conditions.’

Forecasters were predicting up to six inches of snow in parts of southern New England, beginning in the mid-afternoon Thursday. 

A forecast map shows the mix of snow, ice and rain expected to hit the East Coast and Upper Midwest on Thursday

A forecast map shows the mix of snow, ice and rain expected to hit the East Coast and Upper Midwest on Thursday

St Louis: Richard Burst clears snow from his driveway on Thursday.   'All I really need to accomplish are two lanes for my car,' he said.   Much of the region had at least four inches of snow and forecasters expect about one inch or two inches more will fall

St Louis: Richard Burst clears snow from his driveway on Thursday. ‘All I really need to accomplish are two lanes for my car,’ he said. Much of the region had at least four inches of snow and forecasters expect about one inch or two inches more will fall

St Louis: Snow falls in Tower Grove Park on Thursday. Parts of the St Louis area got up to eight inches in the storm

St Louis: Snow falls in Tower Grove Park on Thursday. Parts of the St Louis area got up to eight inches in the storm

St Louis: A family prepares to go sledding  on Thursday in St Louis, where the snow storm caused school closures

St Louis: A family prepares to go sledding  on Thursday in St Louis, where the snow storm caused school closures

St Louis: Snow falls on the Tower Grove Park South neighborhood of St Louis on Thursday

St Louis: Snow falls on the Tower Grove Park South neighborhood of St Louis on Thursday

St Louis: Jamey Torregrossa clears the sidewalk of snow in front of the Carpenters District Council building on Thursday

St Louis: Jamey Torregrossa clears the sidewalk of snow in front of the Carpenters District Council building on Thursday

On Wednesday, five people died in crashes blamed on icy road conditions due to the storm. 

Betty Russell, 70, was one of two killed when a casino bus hit ice and flipped over in Mississippi on Wednesday

Betty Russell, 70, was one of two killed when a casino bus hit ice and flipped over in Mississippi on Wednesday

In Mississippi, a tour bus bound for a casino overturned, leaving two people dead and 44 others injured. 

The crash happened about 35 miles southeast of downtown Memphis, Tennessee.

Killed were Betty Russell, 70, and Cynthia Hardin, 61, both of Huntsville, Alabama, said DeSoto County Coroner Joshua Pounders. 

The injured were taken to Memphis-area hospitals, with at least three listed in serious condition Wednesday evening.

Officials said the group was traveling from Huntsville, Alabama, to gamble at a casino in Mississippi’s Tunica County, about 40 miles to the west.

Witnesses told Mississippi investigators the tour bus driver lost control after crossing an icy overpass and the bus rolled over on its driver’s side, coming to rest in median of Interstate 269 in Byhalia around 12.35pm, said Mississippi Highway Patrol spokesman Capt. Johnny Poulos.

‘All of a sudden the bus started swerving then it spun around two times, hit the rail and then flipped over,’ bus passenger Veronica Love told news outlets as she left a hospital after the wreck. ‘The second spin, it started picking up speed. It was, I mean, what could you do?’ 

Mississippi: A tour bus is towed away Wednesday after it overturned on an icy highway, killing two and injuring 44

Mississippi: A tour bus is towed away Wednesday after it overturned on an icy highway, killing two and injuring 44

On Wednesday, this bus carrying passengers to a casino overturned on an icy road in DeSoto County, Mississippi

On Wednesday, this bus carrying passengers to a casino overturned on an icy road in DeSoto County, Mississippi

A tour bus sits on a highway after it crashed  in northern Mississippi, killing at least two people and injuring dozens

A tour bus sits on a highway after it crashed in northern Mississippi, killing at least two people and injuring dozens

A map shows active winter storm watches, advisories and warnings in New England, the Appalachians, and Midwest

A map shows active winter storm watches, advisories and warnings in New England, the Appalachians, and Midwest

And in the Little Rock, Arkansas area, three people were killed in two separate crashes on icy roads.

Shortly before 6.30pm on Cantrell Road near Interstate 430, a 1999 Chevrolet hit a patch of ice and crossed into the opposing lane, striking a 2016 Mazda.

The Mazda driver, 26-year-old Quinten Young of Little Rock was killed, police said. The Chevrolet driver was injured.

In Jacksonville, to the northeast of Little Rock, a 1999 Honda hit a patch of ice on U.S. 67/167 at around 9.45pm.

The Honda veered off the road, killing both the driver, who has not yet been named, and passenger Mearlon Noah, 56, of Cabot.

In the eastern part of Arkansas, Interstate 40 was shut down overnight because of several crashes near the White River bridge.

The interstate reopened shortly before daybreak Thursday, but officials said traffic was slow-going because some drivers had fallen asleep. 

Pennsylvania: A young buck forages for food during a snow storm on Thursday in Marple Township. Pennsylvanians are dealing with their first taste of wintry weather this season. A mix of rain, sleet and snow had started falling across some areas

Pennsylvania: A young buck forages for food during a snow storm on Thursday in Marple Township. Pennsylvanians are dealing with their first taste of wintry weather this season. A mix of rain, sleet and snow had started falling across some areas

Indiana: Icicles hang on street signs near Donner Park in Columbus, Indiana on Thursday

Indiana: Icicles hang on street signs near Donner Park in Columbus, Indiana on Thursday

Cincinnati: Ice coats a tree in Cincinnati on Thursday. A mix of freezing rain and ice has hit Ohio causing hazardous roads

Cincinnati: Ice coats a tree in Cincinnati on Thursday. A mix of freezing rain and ice has hit Ohio causing hazardous roads

New England will see the most snow through Friday, as the map above shows, but icy roads will be hazardous elsewhere

New England will see the most snow through Friday, as the map above shows, but icy roads will be hazardous elsewhere

A map shows Friday's forecast for the East Coast, with most of the winter precipitation limited to New England

A map shows Friday’s forecast for the East Coast, with most of the winter precipitation limited to New England

Snow fell as far southeast as central Alabama, which got a dusting. While wintry precipitation is unusual in the Deep South so early in the season, forecasters said the overnight trace missed setting a record for earliest snow by about two weeks.  

Around the upper South, meanwhile, the storm spread scattered sleet and light snow on Wednesday. 

By Thursday, the snow hit as far west as St Louis, where much of the region had at least four inches of snow and forecasters expected about one inch or two inches more to fall.

And in Virginia, NASA said, the planned launch early Thursday of an unmanned cargo rocket to the International Space Station had to be rescheduled by one day because of the weather. 

The unmanned Cygnus cargo craft is now scheduled to lift off early Friday from Wallops Island on the Eastern Shore carrying supplies and research materials for the astronauts at the space station.

Elsewhere, an ice storm hitting parts of Indiana shut down schools and left hazardous conditions on roadways Thursday morning.

The Northrop Grumman Antares rocket, with Cygnus resupply spacecraft onboard, is seen on Pad-0A, Wednesday at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility Virginia. The launch was rescheduled due to bad weather and is currently scheduled for Friday

The Northrop Grumman Antares rocket, with Cygnus resupply spacecraft onboard, is seen on Pad-0A, Wednesday at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility Virginia. The launch was rescheduled due to bad weather and is currently scheduled for Friday

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk