Storm closes schools across NY state 

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Scores of schools from the Finger Lakes to Long Island are closed or delaying the start of classes because of a storm that's expected to dump up to 16 inches of snow on some upstate areas.

Only a handful of school closings are reported Wednesday morning in western New York, where up to 4 inches had fallen and up to 12 inches is expected. Most of the closings are in the eastern half of the state, where forecasts predict 8 to 16 inches of snow in the Adirondacks and up to a foot in the Albany area by Wednesday night.

Highway closures were reported in the Hudson Valley after accidents occurred during snowy conditions. The southbound Thruway lanes between exits 18 and 17 and the eastbound lanes of Interstate in Putnam County have since reopened. No details on the accidents were immediately available from state police.