The Blizzard of 2016 will continue to evolve and shut down travel into Saturday from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia and New York City, with some areas of the mid-Atlantic bracing for 1-3 feet of snow and strong winds.
According to AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Elliot Abrams, "This will be a
rare event for the region as there are not many storms that bring a foot or more of snow over such a large area and last more than 24 hours."
Be prepared for lengthy power outages, immobilizationWinds and the rate of snowfall will increase as the storm strengthens. Massive drifts will develop, where sleet and rain do not mix in. Gusts along the mid-Atlantic coast will frequent 40-50 mph.
An all-out blizzard will unfold from northern Virginia to southwestern Connecticut.
Periodic whiteout conditions will occur farther west from south-central Pennsylvania to part of western North Carolina.
Snowfall rates from New Jersey to Virginia and West Virginia will be 1-3 inches per hour at times and the storm can last for more than 24 hours. Thunder and lightning could accompany the heavy snow in some locations. In some communities, roads could be blocked and the power could be out for days.
Multiple state officials have
declared a state of emergency and are urging people to stay off the roads or risk being stranded during the storm.
Comment: 'Historic' blizzard expected to hit US east coast on Friday