A jack-o'-lantern is covered with snow during a storm, Sunday Oct. 30, 2011, in Freeport, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The landfall of Hurricane Sandy along the eastern coast is expected to bring snow to the higher elevations of East Tennessee beginning Monday morning.

The National Weather Service said in a statement early Sunday that 1 to 4 inches of snow is expected to fall in the mountains of northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia, with 4 to 8 inches expected for elevations above 3,000 feet.

Much colder air moving into the southern Appalachians with strong winds and abundant moisture reaching the area from the remnants of Sandy will combine to generate a strong winter storm that could produce snow through Wednesday, the Weather Service said.

Moderate to heavy wet snow is possible. The weight from this wet snowfall may down trees and power lines, causing power outages. Driving may become hazardous due to the snow and ice covered roadways. Strong winds with heavy snow may cause localized blizzard conditions, according to the Weather Service.

The weather service office in Morristown has issued a freeze warning for the mountains that will be in effect starting midnight through 9 a.m. Monday.

Other areas of the state are not expected to see any snow, but wind speeds are expected to increase.