A winter weather system that was on pace to dump snow along a 2,000-mile corridor was set to snarl the morning commute for millions as it moved east on Tuesday morning, forecasters warned. A plethora of winter watches, warnings and advisories were in effect for 22 states from Washington to New Jersey. The storm caused transport chaos in the Midwest on Monday, hitting Chicago with five inches of snow and canceling and delaying hundreds of flights.
The snow has been making its way from the Northwest since the weekend and promised a messy Tuesday morning for motorists Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. Also in the firing line were Pittsburgh, Columbus, and Cincinnati, which were all forecast for snow as the storm moved eastward at "near freeway speeds" early Tuesday, according to The Weather Channel. New York could also get a dusting.
More from NBC News:
PHOTOS: Brutal Cold Freezes Chicago
VIDEO: In Cold Minnesota, It's Bundle Up and Get Outside
Below-Zero Blaze Ravages Wyoming Town
"Since this snow will be coming during a Tuesday morning commute for Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, it may cause more impact than a one-or-two-inch snow typically would," The Weather Channel added. By the time it hit the East Coast cities, it would have dumped snow on along a 2,000-mile corridor stretching literally from coast to coast.
According to The Weather Channel, the up to three inches of snowfall expected Tuesday won't be the end of the wintry misery. A blast of arctic air is set to hit the eastern two-thirds of the nation Wednesday and Thursday with some of the coldest temperatures this winter.