HYANNIS – A storm that is expected to bury Mid-Atlantic states with 1-to-2 feet of snow will likely arrive off Cape Cod late Saturday afternoon.
Forecasters with the National Weather Service predict the system to intensify rapidly once it heads off the coast.
Strong winds and coastal flooding are likely across portions of Eastern Massachusetts, but exact snowfall totals are still uncertain.
Early estimates indicate the Upper Cape could see six inches or more, with lesser amounts toward the Lower Cape and Nantucket where there could be a changeover to rain.
If the storm tracks closer to the coast, heavy snow would be possible farther north. If the storm tracks farther offshore, the threat of heavy snow will diminish.
Northeast winds will whip up to 50 mph, with the strongest winds Saturday night into Sunday morning over Cape Cod and the Islands. Officials said wind speeds of that magnitude may bring down tree limbs and result in isolated to scattered power outages.
High astronomical tides will combine with strong onshore Northeast winds to yield a risk for minor, to perhaps pockets of moderate coastal flooding.
Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe has issued a state of emergency ahead of an upcoming winter storm.
Thursday’s declaration authorizes state agencies to assist local governments in response to the storm, which is expected to dump up to 2 feet of snow in parts of the state and bring strong winds.
McAuliffe says in a statement that residents should “take the threat of this storm seriously.” He says that includes travel disruptions and possible power outages.
He says transportation crews are treating roads before the storm hits.
Virginia Transportation Secretary Aubrey Layne is urging residents to stay off roads until the storm passes.
A light snowfall during evening rush hour that was more intense than expected led to icy gridlock throughout the Washington area with backups that lasted through the night in some areas.
Treated roads were clear Thursday morning, but some elevated roads, ramps and side streets were icy with drivers inching along.
Maryland Department of Transportation spokesman Charlie Gischlar said crews got stuck in lengthy backups Wednesday night, slowing their progress. He says major delays continued through the night on the Capital Beltway in Prince George’s County, but crews are making progress Thursday morning.
Virginia Department of Transportation spokeswoman Jennifer McCord says in northern Virginia minor accidents built to gridlock and ramp closures continued through the night. She described, “a long night for a lot of people trying to get home.”
The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard watch for New York’s Long Island starting Saturday morning as the Washington area and the Northeast brace for heavy snowfall.
The Weather Service said Thursday morning that nor’easter-like conditions are expected to hit Long Island, New York City and parts of New Jersey, starting Saturday morning.
The watch means there’s potential for 8 to 12 inches of snow, northeast winds 25 to 35 mph and temperatures in the lower 30s.
With heavy snowfall predicted by the weekend from the Appalachians to Philadelphia, people throughout the region readied themselves for blocked roads, power outages and canceled flights.
The National Weather Service said Wednesday that 12 to 16 inches of snow could come down between Friday night and Sunday morning around the Interstate 95 corridor. As much as a foot of snow is possible for Philadelphia’s northern suburbs.
Mitchell Gaines of the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, New Jersey, said people should be prepared for strong winds, heavy, wet snow and power outages.
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