If it snows for 18 hours, and averages 1- 1/2" an hour, it can easily rack up that much. They're predicting times when the snow can come down 3-4" an hour, for an extended period.
The Credit Union at which I work is open for bidness, but they've already said that they'll cut us loose early if the snow starts getting heavy. The problem is that if it starts coming down really heavily, and folks are on the roads, the plows can't get through fast enough to clear what's there, before even MORE comes down. Believe me, it can get pretty hairy driving through several inches of slush.
Most schools have already posted closing notices, because it would be really dangerous to have big buses sliding around in the slush, and they don't want to get the kids to school, then get them stuck on buses if the roads get really squirrely later in the afternoon.
Just make sure the kids are buckled up....oh, wait...
But not Mayor Dumbberg of NYC. With one side of his mouth, he tells the public not to drive unless absolutely necessary, and with the other side of his lying pus-filled mouth, he insists that NYC public schools remain open. What about the transportation HOME from school? By then, the storm will be well under way, there well might be whiteout conditions, and the roads will be hazardous to travel. Typical dumba@@ move by this cretin.