A winter weather advisory from the National Weather Service is in effect for much of the region until 7 a.m. Tuesday, with a winter storm warning in parts of New Jersey, New York and Connecticut.

Forecasters warned that New York City and Long Island could expect to see about two to four inches of snow by Monday night, with up to 10 inches in some suburban areas.

Pounding rain had been predicted for the city in the early morning, but the worst of the storm was apparently sparing the city during the beginning of the commute.

Forecasters also warned that heavy winds and wet snow could result in a number of downed tree limbs and power outages in the New York City area, a prediction reminiscent of an snowstorm last November, when similar conditions crippled the region and brought commutes to a standstill.

As with that storm, weather conditions were expected to worsen over time on Monday, with temperatures dropping and winds rising just in time for evening rush hour.