US East Coast Prepares for Heavy Snow, Plunging Temperatures as Blizzard Hits

Forecasts of a potentially brutal storm, which moved up the East Coast after forming in the Atlantic Ocean off the Carolinas, had prompted airlines to cancel 5,000 flights through the weekend and delay more than 8,000.

The governors of Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York all declared states of emergency, warned of likely power outages and urged residents to stay off the roads on Saturday.

“This is going to be a very big storm, probably one of the biggest we’ve experienced in the last few years. Conditions are expected to make travel nearly impossible, and we’re urging everyone, to the extent possible to stay home tonight and tomorrow,” Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker told a news conference.

The National Weather Service issued flood warnings for coastal areas and Amtrak canceled passenger rail service across much of the region.

“The Nor’easter that will move up through the mid-Atlantic States to the Northeast this weekend will bring extreme cold and hazardous conditions to many communities,” Homeland Security Advisor Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall said in a statement on Friday evening.

“We will be actively monitoring the storm’s projected impacts and working closely with (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) to ensure that we are prepared to support any needs for Federal assistance that may arise in your community,” Sherwood-Randall said.

‘WHITEOUT CONDITIONS’

The storm was approaching nearly 44 years to the day after a monstrous blizzard crippled New England in 1978. Striking with little warning and dumping more than 27 inches (70 cm) of snow on Boston, that catastrophic storm killed dozens of people, trapped others in their homes and shut down major highways for a week.

The weather service warned that blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility and strong winds could bring down tree branches and knock out power in parts of the region.