Winter storm warnings sweep nation

Snow, freezing rain and rain made for a messy commute Monday as a winter storm pushed eastward.

The National Weather Service has issued winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories for parts of the Great Lakes and the Northeast.

Snow fell throughout northern New England, with speeds reduced on snow-packed roads and numerous schools canceled or delayed.

The National Weather Service forecast snow across Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine with up to a foot of snow forecast for parts of southern Vermont. At least several inches were on the ground in parts of the region by Monday morning. Some rain was expected to mix with the snow in southern New Hampshire.

Into early Monday, the storm had dumped more than a half-foot on several states in the Midwest and Great Lakes regions, causing dangerous travel conditions.

It’s a “slap of reality” after a mild November, National Weather Service meteorologist Dave Schmidt in La Crosse, Wisconsin, said.

Hundreds of Michigan schools closed Monday as the state dug out from more than 10 inches of snow that fell over the weekend.

In southeastern Michigan, schools are closed Monday in Detroit and surrounding Wayne County, as well as counties including Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Monroe. Wayne State University in Detroit is closed. And schools are shut in St. Clair and Lapeer counties.

The National Weather Service reports more than 10 inches fell in Lake Orion and Flat Rock. Parts of Macomb County got more than 9 inches.

Snow generally cleared out of the Chicago area on Sunday night, though there was snow falling on Monday morning in some other parts of Illinois. The storms left Chicago-area freeways with patches of snow and ice, making travel more difficult. The area received more than 6 inches of snow as of Sunday night.

The storm forced many schools to cancel classes on Monday and prompted the University of Connecticut to postpone some final exams.

The Ohio River Valley and Mid-Atlantic regions were expected to receive a mix of snow, freezing rain and rain through the day on Monday.

“For the rest of the day the best advice is just to stay off the road if you can, and otherwise go slow and give yourself more time to reach your destination,” National Weather Service meteorologist Mark Steinwedel said. “If you don’t have to drive or go somewhere, stay home.”

Temperatures 15 to 30 degrees below average will follow the cold rain and snow in the coming days through much of the Midwest and East.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.