After just a few hours into 2014, the first major snowstorm of the year threatened to dump as much as a foot of snow on parts of the Northeast and the Midwest.
The blizzard, dubbed "Winter Storm Hercules" by The Weather Channel, is being considered "a pretty significant storm" that has the potential to cause some serious New Year's travel headaches.
The snowstorm's biggest target? According to Bloomberg, it's the New York area.
Two storm systems are reportedly expected to merge by Thursday and cover the New York area in six to 12 inches of snow. Boston could be worse off, with more than a foot in the forecast.
But Hercules' snowy wrath apparently won't be limited to the Northeast. AccuWeather reports, "The storm will affect more than 70 million people in the Midwest and the Northeast combined and could have a major negative impact on travel for people returning from holiday destinations."
By Wednesday afternoon, hundreds of flights due to go in or out of the U.S. were canceled because of the weather. And officials say to expect even more delays until the end of the week. (Via WDAF)
On top of significant snowfall, areas affected by the storm can reportedly expect extremely cold wind and freezing temperatures as well. (Via KDKA)
