Many parts of the Northeast are bracing themselves for the mother of all nor'easters, as estimates put the snowfall between 10 to 12 inches in various parts, causing treacherous conditions for up to 100 million residents all throughout the weekend.

According to the NY affiliate of NBC News, the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut regions of the northeast can expect up to 10 inches of snow in various parts; snow is currently falling in the New York area as of 11:00 a.m. on Thursday. The snowfall, which is currently light, is expected to pick up greatly come the early evening, and by Friday, the snowfall will be paired wiith gale-force winds and temperatures plunging into the low teens. As a result, visibility will be low on Friday. Drivers are encouraged to stay off the roads, and Governor Andrew Cuomo suggested that mass transit "is a prudent option" since many highways are expected to be closed.

The same storm system dumped a half-foot or more of snow in Illinois Wednesday, prompting hundreds of flight cancellations into and out of Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, according to the aviation tracking website FlightAware.com.

And according to Boston.com, even though the snowfall will not be as great in the New England area (only about 4 inches are expected to fall and accumulate), the visibility will still leave much to be desired, causing Boston Mayor Thomas Menino to declare a snow emergency and parking ban beginning today at noon, and declared that Boston Public Schools would not re-open as scheduled on Friday. In a statement announcing the precautions, Menino said city business would go an as usual today.

The leading edge of the snow storm was expected to reach the region after midnight, as temperatures dropped into the teens and flurries appeared north of the Massachusetts Turnpike. "It will be snowing lightly, but there won't be any accumulation," said National Weather Service meteorologist Alan Dunham.