Why multiple states have been forced to close schools today
Waking up to learn that school has been canceled for the day was the thing of dreams as a child - less so for parents, maybe.
And it seems Christmas has come early for students in multiple US states on Monday (December 1), with closures and delays enforced across the country.
Hundreds of schools across New York, Michigan, Iowa and Missouri have issued closures, delays, or mixed schedules for today.
This includes rural districts most affected by poor road conditions.
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Iowa State University, Drake University and University of Northern Iowa have canceled all Monday classes, though campuses remain open for essential operations, reports the Economic Times.
The reason so many schools have been shut is due to heavy snowfall and a fast-moving storm affecting the Midwest and East Coast simultaneously.
The snowy roads and icy conditions make the daily commute far too dangerous to chance.
It comes as a Nor'easter is due to sweep New York City early Tuesday morning (December 2).
A Nor’easter is a coastal storm that forms along the Atlantic Ocean and gets its name from the strong northeast winds that blow toward the shore during the storm.
It's set to bring up to 16 hours of continuous rain or snow, meteorologists have predicted.
So, both morning and evening commuters are at risk here.
The storm is set to reach New York City at around 6am, bringing a mix of rain and snow that could make roads slick for commuters returning after the holiday weekend.
Cities across the region, including Baltimore, Washington D.C., Philadelphia and Boston, are expected to face similar conditions, according to the New York Post.
Northern New Jersey, parts of the lower Hudson Valley, and sections of Connecticut could see up to three inches of snow.
Farther north, snowfall may be much heavier, with areas from Albany to Bangor, Maine, potentially getting as much as eight inches.
FOX meteorologist Cody Braud told the NYPost: "The latest forecast calls for the storm to move into the Northeast late Monday night, but primarily be a Tuesday storm. The rain and snow will last for the entire day before clearing out early Wednesday morning."
The storm won't impact the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree ceremony, then, which is due to take place on Wednesday afternoon.
If you're heading out to it, though, then be sure to wrap up warm as temperatures will reach highs of 41 F and lows of 31 F.
Ellie Kemp