NEW YORK - Heavy snow swept through East Coast of the United States Tuesday, forcing more than 2,000 flights to be canceled.

In New York City, snow started to fall since early Tuesday. By 11:40 am, more than 500 flights were canceled at three airports serving New York City area, including 226 flights at LaGuardia Airport, 128 flights at John F. Kennedy International (JFK) Airport, and 173 more at Newark Liberty International Airport, according to statistics from flight aware website.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning from noon Tuesday until 6 am Wednesday for the five boroughs of New York City, the northern suburbs, all of Long Island, most of New Jersey, and southern and eastern Connecticut.

It warned that snow accumulations could top out at 8 to 12 inches (about 20 centimeters to 30 centimeters), prompting many schools across the region to send students home early so they don't get stuck in the worst of the weather.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio urged people to use mass transit or to stay indoors if possible so the sanitation crews can work to clear the streets. More than 2,000 sanitation workers have been fully mobilized to work around the clock.

Only two weeks ago, a massive winter storm has dumped snow across the Northeast of the United States and ushered in dangerously cold temperatures, causing at least 13 deaths in the country.

A Capitol policeman wears ski goggles while standing guard at the east front of the US Capitol during a snowstorm in Washington January 21, 2014. [Photo/ Agencies]