Big Snowstorm Bears Down on Mid-Atlantic Region
A big snowstorm barreling into the Mid-Atlantic region Friday is going to affect the busy freight corridors of Interstates 80, 81 and 95 and has already prompted airports to cancel many weekend flights, news reports said.
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Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) declared a state of emergency in advance of the storm, which will hit the Mid-Atlantic Friday afternoon into late Saturday. That declaration will enable the state to help local governments respond.
Forecasters said the potentially “paralyzing” storm will make travel “treacherous” from the Ohio Valley into the Mid-Atlantic this weekend, with the center of the storm around Washington. States could close roads from West Virginia to southern Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Blizzard warnings were in effect in much of Delaware and southern New Jersey from Friday afternoon through Saturday night, with warnings of strong winds and blowing, drifting snow, the Associated Press reported.
Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington will likely see the worst of the storm, with a foot or more of snow, according to AccuWeather reports.
Most airlines in the Baltimore-Washington area have canceled flights beginning Friday afternoon through Sunday, and Amtrak has canceled rail service south of Washington.
In southern Virginia, the snow will be less severe and will likely mix with rain, AccuWeather said. The rain may freeze late Saturday and cause ice patches on roads.
