Massive Nor'easter Rages Toward East Coast

East coast residents who thought the worst of winter was behind them are getting a reality check.

A powerful storm is blowing its way up from the south to the northeast, reports CBS News correspondent Bianca Solorzano, with several big cities due to get their biggest snowfalls of the year.

New York City is expecting up to 13 inches of snow by morning in Manhattan, as a Nor'easter which already hit the southeast, makes it's way to up East Coast.

In Atlanta, where even a dusting of snow is unusual in March, the day began with flurries and the potential for up to 2 inches of snow.

The flakes were a rare site for Georgia children who came out to play - that much snow hasn't fallen here in more than a decade.

It's all part of a strong winter storm, that first hit Alabama, Solorzano reports.

The northeastern part of the state was pounded with blustery wind and a rare blanket of white - up to five inches of snow in some areas.

The same system spawned at least 3 tornadoes in eastern Alabama - ripping through homes and a church.

On a snowy Tennessee highway, an accident turned what should be a two hour ride into a 14 hour backup.

As the storm plows north, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern towns are preparing for a classic Noreaster, that's expected to be the worst storm of the season for Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore and Washington D.C.

"This is certainly a storm system that's going to be the be the headlines, when you wake up tomorrow morning," says Jason Handman, an Accuweather forecaster.

Forecasters say snowfall will intensify overnight, and the morning commute in parts of the northeast will be difficult, Solorzano reports.