Blog: Records fall as snow batters East Coast again
Heavy snow pummeled much of the East Coast on Wednesday, battering states for the second time in a week and forcing many people to stay home from school and jobs.
Several cities had record snowfalls.
The storm canceled or delayed flights in several cities, kept federal workers home for a third straight Ghd day in Washington, and taxed local government budgets as cities and counties scrambled to pay for snow removal, overtime, salt, supplies and equipment.
In Washington, the snow was falling at a rate of 2 inches per hour at one point in the afternoon, CNN meteorologist Jacqui Jeras said. Forecasters predicted that Washington winds would gust to 50 mph overnight.
A blizzard warning was to be in effect in the Washington area until 7 p.m., the National Weather Service said. Blowing snow caused such poor visibility at midday that snowplows temporarily parked by the side of the road, authorities said.
Forecasters predicted that the MBT Shoe storm would dump a total of 8 to 10 inches inside the Capital Beltway (Interstate 495), with higher amounts to the north.
Watch the forecast on the storm’s trek
“Even if you’re in a SUV, it’s difficult to get around,” Washington Police Chief Cathy Lanier said. “You can’t see the Capitol dome through the snow,” even standing a few yards away.
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This winter already has become the snowiest on record for Washington and its suburbs, as well as Baltimore, Maryland, and Wilmington, Delaware, the National Weather Service said. It’s also on pace to become the snowiest Mbt season on record in other cities, including Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Blizzard warnings also were in effect Wednesday for Asheville, North Carolina; Newark and Atlantic City, New Jersey; Baltimore, Maryland; Dover, Delaware; New York and nearby Long Island; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Under a blizzard warning, the following conditions are expected to be seen for three hours or longer: wind speeds of 35 mph or more and considerable falling and/or blowing of snow with visibility near zero (less than one-fourth mile), the weather service said.
In Atlantic City, the landmark Boardwalk — lined with shops, restaurants and casinos — remained open despite the snow.
New York was to be under a blizzard warning until 6 a.m. Thursday, but the snow was expected to stop falling late Wednesday night. Forecasters predicted wind gusts up to 50 mph and predicted the city will have received 12 to 20 inches of snow by the time the storm ends.
In Pennsylvania, all of Interstates 76, 78, 83, 176, 476 and 676, as well as state road 581, were closed Wednesday because of blizzard ghd hair straighteners conditions, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation said on its Web site. Part of I-81 was closed, it said.
Interstate 80 near Clearfield, Pennsylvania, was shut after two pileups — one involving 17 cars and the other involving seven cars, said Rich Kirkpatrick from the state’s Department of Transportation. One person died and another person was seriously injured, police said.
Philadelphia was under a blizzard warning until midnight, and could have as much as 20 inches of snow by the time it stops, forecasters said.
In Boston, Massachusetts, snowfall rates of 2 to 3 inches an hour were expected along the Interstate 95 corridor into the evening. A winter storm warning was in effect until 1 a.m. Thursday, with final snow MBT Shoes totals of 5 to 10 inches, the weather service said.
Thousands of flights were delayed or canceled to and from airports in Baltimore, Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, airlines reported.
