Looming East Coast Blizzard Forces Government Shutdown, Affects Travel
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WASHINGTON (CBSDFW.COM/AP) - The National Weather Service has said that the blizzard which is about to hit the eastern United States could rank near the top 10 ever to hit the region.
Meteorologist Paul Kocin with the service's Weather Prediction Center said that snowfall as heavy as 1-3 inches an hour could continue for 24 hours or more in the area. That puts snowfall estimates at more than two feet for Washington, 12-18 inches for Philadelphia and 8-12 inches in New York.
Five states and the District of Columbia have declared states of emergency ahead of the slow-moving system.
The federal government has announced that it will be closing its offices in the Washington area at noon Friday as the nation's capital braces for what could be a historic blizzard.
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National Weather Service director Louis Uccellini stated that residents should expect brutally high winds, dangerous inland flooding, white-out conditions and even the possibility of thunder snow.
Anyone with plans to travel from DFW to the east coast this weekend are advised to check with carriers for the latest updates on delays and cancellations. Several planes are already staying grounded on Friday, leaving some travelers stranded in North Texas.
American Airlines is one of the carriers which started warning travelers earlier this week about potential problems over the weekend. Some passengers have started looking for alternative flights in order to reach their destination at some point. Some airlines are letting customers rebook without paying a change fee.
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