ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Hundreds of schools across New York’s eastern half are closed or delaying the start of classes as the season’s first major storm socks the region with several inches of snow.

The National Weather Service says up to 8 inches has fallen Wednesday morning, with the highest totals in the Albany area, the Catskills and Orange County in the Hudson Valley.

Authorities say the southbound side of Interstate 787 in Albany and the westbound lanes of the Thruway between exits 59 and 60 in Chautauqua County are closed by accidents.