Heavy snow is expected to blanket large portions of the Eastern U.S. while much of the country will endure dangerously cold temperatures in the coming days.

NEW YORK — New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are under winter storm warnings today as the entire region braces for snow. Tri-State Area officials have been issuing warnings and discussing the states' preparations in the days leading up to the storm.

Winter storm warnings issued by the National Weather Service were in effect for parts of the Mid-Atlantic through Monday morning, and warnings began in New England on Sunday afternoon. Heavy lake-effect snow was expected in western New York state Monday through Wednesday morning,