Hercules

From TWC:

"Winter Storm Hercules State-By-State Impacts: 2014's First Big Storm Bears Down on Northeast"

Having already dumped more than a foot of snow in some parts of the Great Lakes and New England, Winter Storm Hercules ushered in 2014 with wintry weather and frigid temperatures for the mid-Atlantic, coastal Northeast and New England. "It's going to be a corker of a storm," said Tom Niziol, winter weather expert for The Weather Channel. "This will be a full-blown Nor'easter." The storm is expected to impact more than 100 million people in the Midwest and Northeast combined.

"Winter Storm Hercules is on the move from the Midwest into the Northeast," said weather.com meteorologist Chris Dolce. "The Northeast I-95 corridor will feel the worst impacts from Hercules Thursday evening into Friday morning. Gusty winds will combine with the snow to produce poor visibility and dangerous travel conditions. Localized blizzard conditions are possible on Long Island and in coastal parts of southeast Massachusetts." Below is a breakdown of the impacts from Winter Storm Hercules, as told state-by-state.

New York

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a statewide state of emergency Thursday, urging people to "seriously consider staying in their homes." Cuomo said Interstate 84 in the Hudson Valley will be closed to commercial traffic starting at 5 p.m. Thursday and to all traffic at midnight. He says the Long Island Expressway will also be closed at midnight in Nassau and Suffolk counties and the Thruway will be closed from Albany south .Cuomo says plans are for the highways to reopen at 5 a.m. Friday, but a decision will be made by 4 a.m.  New York City officials have issued snow and travel alerts ahead Winter Storm Hercules, which is expected to dump between 6 and 8 inches of snow. The National Weather Service issued a citywide Winter Storm Warning from 6 p.m. Thursday through 1 p.m. Friday. The Office of Emergency Management says the strongest winds and heaviest snow will fall between midnight and 7 a.m. Friday. Sanitation officials say 364 salt spreaders have been loaded and attached plows and tire chains in anticipation of slick roads Thursday. Transportation officials have suspended alternate side parking rules for Thursday. The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for Long Island, where 8 to 10 inches of snow could fall and winds could gust to 45 mph.

Massachusetts

Gov. Deval Patrick sent Massachusetts state workers home early Thursday due to snowy conditions; he encouraged private employers to do the same. Snow is falling across the state and will continue overnight and into Friday morning. Predictions call for at least 8 to 10 inches for all of Massachusetts, but some areas could see up to two feet of by the time the storm ends. Topsfield, north of Boston, had already seen 12 inches by Thursday evening. Snow could be heavy overnight but an additional concern is frigid temperatures with wind chills well below zero. Coastal flooding could also be an issue at high tide. High winds could knock out power. Patrick says 1,600 pieces of equipment are on state highways and he has authorized the National Guard to help out as needed.

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino announced a parking ban and said schools would be closed Friday in Boston, where up to 14 inches of snow was expected. Boston's airport said it would not handle any flights after 8:30 p.m. Thursday. The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for Cape Cod.

Connecticut

Connecticut's governor called for the early release of state workers and schools across the state were closing early as Winter Storm Hercules bears down on the Northeast. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy urged the private sector to consider sending employees home early. Dismissals of executive branch agency workers are beginning at 3 p.m. and continuing in 15-minute intervals. The governor plans to partially activate the state emergency operations center Thursday afternoon in case it needs to help coordinate the response to any problems created by the storm.

New Jersey

Most of the state is under a winter storm warning, with forecasters expecting 6 to 10 inches to fall in northwestern New Jersey by Friday, 4 to 8 in areas close to New York City and 4 to 6 in southern New Jersey. New Jersey Transit has announced that it will cross-honor all tickets on Thursday.

Rhode Island

Some schools closed or had no afternoon activities Thursday, and many planned to be closed Friday, including in Providence, Warwick, Cranston and Pawtucket. Many communities declared parking bans. Block Island ferry service was cancelled Thursday, and Peter Pan Bus Lines canceled several buses in and out of Providence. Gov. Lincoln Chafee said state government would continue to operate Friday, although employees unable to make it in could get approval to stay home and use vacation time.

New Hampshire

Snow-covered roads have led to many accidents in parts of New Hampshire, as a number of school districts are staying closed for another vacation day and some flights are being delayed at canceled at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport. State police closed a busy section of Interstate 93 northbound just south of the Interstate 89 junction in Bow because of multiple accidents late Thursday morning. Drivers are being asked to seek alternate routes. Light, fluffy snow was falling across much of the state and the Department of Transportation has lowered speeds to 45 mph on sections of I-93 and 89.

About 8 to 12 inches of snow is expected in the southern half of New Hampshire, with lesser amounts farther north.

Maine

Snowfall began Thursday morning, sending some vehicles sliding off roads during the morning commute. Conditions continued to deteriorate to the point Gov. Paul LePage sent workers home early in nine counties. Outside Portland, the Smiling Hill cross-country ski center closed for the day, saying bitter cold and wind gusts made conditions too dangerous even for winter sports enthusiasts.

A freezing spray advisory was in effect for commercial fishing boats operating in the North Atlantic, where temperatures were so cold that fishing boats could accumulate nearly an inch of ice per hour.

Vermont

A winter storm watch is in effect for Vermont's two southernmost counties with 6 to 12 inches of snow possible.  The winter storm watch remains in effect until 10 a.m. Friday.

Ohio

Hercules complicated the first morning commute of 2014.  Snow reduced visibility and made roads slippery as people returned to work after the holidays. Some schools that were scheduled to be back in session after the holiday break were delayed or closed. Temperatures are also expected to drop into the teens over the next few days in the state.

Pennsylvania

PennDOT said it is putting salt-spreading trucks on standby and has sprayed salt brine on major expressways and highways. However, Transportation Secretary Barry Schoch warned that roads will not be free of ice and snow during winter storms, even with crews working around the clock.

Michigan

Winter Storm Hercules dumped as much as 10 inches of snow on Michigan snarling traffic, and causing numerous crashes. A tanker carrying crude oil crashed Thursday morning on snowy Interstate 69 in Genesee County's Davison Township, forcing the temporary evacuation of nearby homes and businesses. AAA Michigan spokeswoman Nancy Cain says the auto club received 3,100 Thursday through 4 p.m. after assisting 3,000 people on New Year's Day.

Illinois

Winter Storm Hercules brought double-digit snow totals to the suburbs of Chicago. Gurnee had 18 inches and Highwood had 15 inches. In central Illinois snow totals were between 3 and 5 inches. The Illinois Department of Transportation had nearly 1,300 trucks responding to the storm as of Thursday evening. The snow was blamed for at least two deaths Thursday. One unidentified person died in a traffic accident on Interstate 72 in Macon County, while authorities say 66-year-old Carl W. Walker of Alton suffered a fatal heart attack after using a snow blower. About 300 flights were canceled at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, with delays of about 45 minutes on Thursday. Midway International Airport had minor delays and few cancelations.

Indiana

Driving is treacherous around Indiana from several inches of snowfall, with more than two dozen counties issuing travel advisories and at least two crash deaths. Most of Indiana was under a winter weather advisory Thursday from the National Weather Service, with 5.5 inches of snow reported in Indianapolis and 6 inches in Rushville. The crash in central Indiana's Tipton County happened when a 19-year-old from Florida lost control of an SUV late Wednesday and it overturned into a field. Police say William Lamoreaux of Plant City, Fla., died at the scene and a 14-year-old cousin suffered a broken wrist. LaPorte County police say 36-year-old John Kallok of Griffith died Wednesday when his pickup truck slid into the path of a charter bus on U.S. 20 in northern Indiana.

North Carolina

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for Thursday afternoon until Friday morning for the mountains about 3,500 feet north and west of Asheville. Lower elevations and areas around Boone are under a winter weather advisory.

Kentucky

Kentucky State Police say slick roads caused dozens of wrecks and closed roads across the state as temperatures plummeted below freezing. Trooper Jody Sims in Hazard says troopers responded to 48 collisions on Thursday because of icy roads in parts of eastern Kentucky. Sims says none of the wrecks were fatal. Officials shut down a portion of the Hal Rodgers Parkway between London and Manchester early Thursday. On the western end of the state, Trooper Jay Thomas in Hickory says there were multiple collisions on the Jackson Purchase Parkway and Interstate 24 in McCracken, Marshall and Livingston counties. Thomas says the main problems were on overpasses, bridges and hilltops.

^ I am one of the 100 million people affected by this storm. We got 16 inches of snow a week ago and then another foot a few days ago. Today we got about 6 inches for the first storm. The second one is supposed to bring another 6 inches of snow and lows of - 15 F (with a windchill of -25 F.) While I have been able to stay home during the snow storms so far I won't be able to tomorrow morning and will have to get up early to clear enough snow for us to be able to drive into town. We have someone who plows our driveway, but he can take up to 24 hours after the last flake has fallen to come to our house so I have to shovel the walkways, the end of the driveway and the balcony. Snow is only good one day a year (on Christmas) and shouldn't fall any other time. Unfortunately, we have 3-4 more months of snow. ^

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