ARLINGTON, Va. − Two powerful weather systems were careening across the nation Tuesday, threatening to dump up to a foot of snow in some areas while snarling traffic, clogging roadways, shuttering schools and shutting down government offices.

At least 26 states are under alerts for snow, ice and flooding as three winter storms cross the country over the next few days. The first storm is moving into the

Essex, Hudson and Union counties were originally under a winter storm watch, but the watch was changed to a winter weather advisory Friday afternoon, with forecasters calling for 3 to 5 inches of snow and a light glaze of ice in those areas, as well as eastern Bergen and eastern Passaic.

Heavy snow, freezing rain and temperatures as much as 35 degrees below seasonal averages are set to hit large parts of the United States as a string of storms confirm that winter is far from over.

The FOX Forecast Center is tracking the development of several winter storms that are expected to sweep across the U.S. this week, putting tens of millions of people in about 40 states on alert for snow,