A severe winter storm that is predicted to dump up to 10 inches of snow has arrived in central New York as it cuts a wide swath across upstate, starting near Buffalo in the morning and moving toward Albany.

All nine school districts in the Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES, as well as Cayuga Community College, canceled classed today ahead of the storm that has been moving across the country. The storm has packed a punch already in western New York.

By midmorning, most flights in and out of Buffalo Niagara International Airport were canceled and more than 500 flights were canceled at New York City-area airports.

"It's a fast moving, powerful storm that will produce snowfall rates that could exceed two inches per hour," said Tom Niziol, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

Lighter snow is forecast in the northern Adirondacks and there is a possibility of sleet and freezing rain in some parts of the Southern Tier along the Pennsylvania border.

It's expected to cause traffic slowdowns, but forecasters aren't expecting storm-related damage.

The National Weather Service has a winter storm warning in effect through midnight.