Snowstorm threatens Southeast U.S.

ATLANTA, March 2 (UPI) -- As snow began falling in the Southeast Tuesday, airlines canceled hundreds of flights, schools closed and the National Weather Service warned of a winter storm.

Forecasters called for up to 6 inches of fresh snow in the mountains of northern Georgia and the western Carolinas, Accuweather.com said. A winter storm warning was in effect in parts of Georgia and North and South Carolina.

Delta Air Lines had canceled more than 500 flights by 11 a.m. Tuesday, spokesman Anthony Black told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

"As the snow continues to increase, the number of flights continues to decrease," he said. "We'll make additional cancellations throughout the day as we need to."

AirTran Airways canceled 58 flights into and out of Atlanta.

Roads will get more dangerous Tuesday night as water or slush freezes, Accuweather said. The worst travel is expected to be along interstates 81 and 85, and I-20 and I-40 could get slippery.

The storm, which dropped 3 inches of snow in Texas Monday before heading northeast, is expected to bring no more than a dusting to the Washington area, which has been hit by three major snowfalls this winter.