A major snowstorm will pelt some parts of the United States from Sunday evening through Monday and will cause major disruptions in cities such as Chicago and New York City, according to AccuWeather Thursday. Early indications are that a long-duration snow event will expand from the northern Rockies and central Plains to portions of the Midwest and Northeast in the days ahead. The heaviest snow is likely to fall Monday afternoon into evening in the coastal Northeast, said Alex Sosnowski, a meteorologist. And the snowfall rates at the height of the storm may reach 2 inches (about 5.1 centimeters ) per hour. The storm is likely to impact not only travel, but also school and business activities, Sosnowski said. Given the amount of storms this winter, the storm may completely tap remaining ice- melting supplies in some communities. While some gaps are likely in between the storms, snow or a wintry mix could fall for 36 hours over a several-day stretch in some areas in the central Plains and the middle part of the Mississippi Valley.