Many schools and businesses throughout the area are closing early this afternoon, to make way for the approaching winter storm which has already begun to affect the area. Ice Storm Alerts, Snowstorm Warnings, and Winter Storm Advisories are all in effect Snow, sleet, and freezing rain have been reported, even in the metro area, throughout the morning and afternoon. Although warmer temperatures in the city have allowed the ice hazard to remain low thus far, areas just inland have experienced ice covered roads and dangerous travel. This will continue over the next several hours into Wednesday. Precipitation is light and intermittent for the time being as the initial weak storm has passed to our east. However, the stronger system remains well to our west and has yet to affect the area. Precipitation Tuesday night into Wednesday is forecast to be heavier, with the potential for widespread sleet and freezing rain, especially inland where ice accretion totals may near or exceed 1/2 an inch. Closer to the city, a sloppy inch of sleet is forecast...and some lighter ice accretions are possible, as well as out on Long Island, along the Jersey shore and the Connecticut coast. The higher snow amounts should be limited to our far northern suburbs, such as Litchfield county. Precipitation is forecast to end by Wednesday evening in the form of rain. Please stay tuned for further information throughout the evening and be sure to follow our Facebook and Twitter accounts for constant updates. Featured image: 3:00pm February 1st, 2011 Water Vapor Satellite showing the storm developing across the Central United States.