“Historic” is an overused word, but it applies to the blizzard that’s coming for the national capital region, large parts of which could get more than 30 inches of snow over the weekend.
Advertisement
With less than an inch of snow forecast, most roads were left untreated.
As food and supplies vanished from store shelves, five states and the District of Columbia declared states of emergency ahead of the slow-moving system.
Freezing rain was expected into move into areas west and north of Interstate 65 between 6 p.m. Thursday and 6 a.m. Friday, turning completely to snow before noon Friday. College basketball games and concerts will have to wait. Snow should start falling there late Friday afternoon, with 10 to 14 inches possible by day’s end. Underground stations usually stay open during major snowstorms.
The National Weather Service says the heaviest amounts of snow, 18 to 24 inches, are expected to fall in some northern and eastern sections of the state and in higher elevations, including Buckhannon, Elkins, Marlington, Martinsburg, Summersville and Webster Springs.
This image provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center shows an early computer model forecasting the chances of a windy, strong sleet-snow storm hitting the East Coast this weekend, January 22-23, 2016.
The National Weather Service said there’s a potential for 6 inches of snow or more in the region.
The storm is expected to miss northern New England.
As well as several emergency warnings, blizzard watches now extend from the capital to New Jersey, and the New York City area, where Mayor Bill de Blasio has offered reassurance to the community.
New York, Philadelphia and Boston are all expected to see snowfall, though it is unclear how heavy it will be.
States of emergency were also declared in neighboring Virginia and Maryland.
As for Charlotte Douglas, a statement from the airport said snow crews were to be activated at 11 p.m. Thursday and would work in 12-hour shifts throughout the night to clear the runways. “We’re working very hard not only to be responsive to the predictions but to be nimble enough to respond to any changes”. In North Carolina, two women died late on Wednesday in vehicle accidents on slippery roadways, the governor’s office said.
“I was really surprised by how bad the sidewalks were”, she said.
“It’s simply easier to communicate about a complex storm if it has a name, which our naming program has demonstrated”, said Bryan Norcross, senior hurricane specialist at The Weather Channel and compiler of the list.
Some places could see sleet mixed with snow as winter storm Jonas begins early Friday.
All major airlines have issued waivers for travel over the weekend, allowing passengers to rebook onto earlier or later flights to avoid the storms.
Most airlines are scheduled to restart operations Sunday mid-morning.
Organizers of the March for Life say their annual anti-abortion rally in Washington will be held Friday, as scheduled.
Advertisement
Louis Uccellini of the US National Weather Service has warned the scale of the storm could be life threatening.
