Monday's snowstorm, not expected to taper off until after 4 p.m., will hit southeastern Connecticut harder than any other part of the state, a meteorologist said Monday morning.

Gary Lessor, a meteorologist who serves as the Western Connecticut State University Weather Center's assistant director, said snow totals likely will fall between 4 and 8 inches.

Schools across the region closed in preparation for the winter storm, and some municipalities, including New London and Norwich, issued parking bans.

By 10:30 a.m., the storm was bringing sustained winds of 15 to 25 mph. Gusts could reach between 40 and 50 mph, Lessor said.

Even after the brunt of the storm has passed tonight, Lessor said, the region likely will see additional light accumulations of snow through Thursday, followed by below-zero wind chills this weekend.