Snow intensifies ahead of evening commute as storm hits US Northeast

All schools were closed in Philadelphia, while other schools across the region canceled classes or shortened the school day ahead of the storm, local news media reported.

Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy ordered many state workers to head home early on Wednesday afternoon at staggered intervals to avoid traffic snarls on slippery roads.

This week's storm was not forecast to have the hurricane-strength winds whipped up at times by the storm last week, but forecasters say strong gusts of 60 miles per hour (96.56 km per hour) and accumulated snow will still be enough to knock down more power lines.

Last week's storm brought major coastal flooding to Massachusetts, killed at least nine people and knocked out power to about 2.4 million homes and businesses in the Northeast.

Some 100,000 homes and businesses in the region remained without power on Wednesday.

The governors of New Jersey and Pennsylvania declared states of emergency, giving them access to support from the US government if needed.

The Amtrak passenger train service canceled some Wednesday trains between Washington and Boston, as well as some services in Pennsylvania and other parts of the Northeast.

The storm got off to a slow start in New York City, with Michelle Boone, 50, not even bothering to unfurl her umbrella as she waited for a bus.

"This evening could be different, though," she said, saying she was prepared for a tougher slog home. 

Reuters