US: Northeast hit by snowstorm, braces for more

NEW YORK (AA) - Commuters in New York City and New Jersey woke up to inches of snow Tuesday morning in a late-season storm that has affected millions of people in the northeastern U.S.

More than 7,000 flights have been canceled Sunday through Wednesday due to Storm Stella, according to FlightAware.com. Turkish Airlines earlier announced it was cancelling four round-trip flights to the Big Apple.

Thousands of schools have closed. United Nations Headquarters is shuttered for the day as all above-ground public transport in New York and New Jersey was down.

In an update Tuesday morning, Andrew Cuomo, the governor of New York state, said the storm was shifting west and sparing New York City, where forecasts of snow were reduced to 4-8 inches (10-20 centimeters), according to the National Weather Service.

But the blizzard warning remains in effect for the rest of the Tri-State area, cautioning citizens against unnecessary travel as winds are expected to hit 50-60 miles per hour (80-100).

New York City might be spared but the worst is still yet to come for the rest of the northeast, as the brunt of the snowstorm was expected Tuesday afternoon.