Worst East Coast Blizzard In Decades! Flights Cancelled

Heavy Snowfall Batters East Coast Again


Heavy snowfall 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.

The snowfall canceled or delayed flights, kept federal workers home for a third day in Washington and taxed local government budgets as municipalities scrambled to pay for snow removal, overtime, salt, supplies and equipment.

Blizzard warnings stretched from New York to the Carolinas on Wednesday, the National Weather Service said.

A warning was issued for metro Washington; Baltimore, Maryland; Newark and Atlantic City, New Jersey; Dover, Delaware; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; New York City; Long Island, New York; and as far south as the southern Appalachian Mountains, including Asheville, North Carolina.

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 ¼ mile), the weather service said.

In Washington, the snow was falling at a rate of 2 inches per hour, said CNN meteorologist Jacqui Jeras.

Winds intensified in the Washington area, forcing snow plows to park temporarily by the side of the road, Jeras said.

The snowfall is affecting people farther north than last weekend's storm, Jeras said.

And other states are sharing in the travails: Jeras said the weather service reports that 47 states have snow on the ground.

The winter storm barreled in from the Midwest and moved eastward into Washington on Tuesday night and then on toward New York.

This winter is the snowiest on record for several cities or airports, eclipsing records set in the winter of 1995-1996, the weather service said.

Baltimore broke its record of 62.5 inches of snow with a new total of 64.4 inches. Washington's Dulles International Airport shattered its record of 61.9 inches of snowfall with 65.7 inches, and Wilmington, Delaware, has had 59.5 inches of snow, compared with its previous record of 55.9 inches.

And this winter is on pace to become the snowiest season on record in Atlantic City and Philadelphia, the weather service said.

Thousands of flights Wednesday were delayed or canceled to and from airports in Washington, Baltimore, Boston, New York and Philadelphia.

No flights will operate at Reagan Washington National or Dulles on Wednesday, according to the Washington Metropolitan Airports Authority.

Dulles may reopen as early as 6 a.m. ET Thursday, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

New York metro area airports were operational Wednesday afternoon, but airlines canceled most flights in and out of the region. Operations will continue for as long as crews can keep the runways clear, said Steve Coleman, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Travelers were asked to check their flight status online before leaving for airports.

Due to improved weather conditions in the Chicago, Illinois, area, airlines were reporting no delays at O'Hare and Midway international airports. However, airlines continued to cancel flights at both airports as the storm moved east and affected airports there.

Newark Liberty International Airport and the New Jersey Turnpike remained open, authorities said.

Amtrak was offering limited service between Boston, New York and Washington. Bus service also has been suspended in parts of the Northeast.

If the snowfall continues as predicted, Philadelphia could break its record of 65.5 inches, set in late winter 1995, forecasters said. It has already received more than 56 inches.

Philadelphia hardware store owner Troy Usnik was taking somewhat of a breather Wednesday. The owner of 10th St. Hardware said he sold well more than 100 shovels and 200 to 300 bags of salt the day before.

"Today seems kind of quiet, but there was a mad rush yesterday. Sales were brisk. Last night was a panic, and everyone who didn't have it came out to buy shovels and salt," he said.

Early Wednesday, the snow turned to sleet in Philadelphia, but roads were passable and buses were driving along emergency routes, Usnik said.

More snow was in the forecast, according to the National Weather Service, which predicted 9 inches to 13 inches.

In New York, CNN meteorologist Rob Marciano said the city had deployed 1,600 salt spreaders to care for 65 miles of roads. It was snowing at midday but tapering off.

In Atlantic City, the snow changed into rain early Wednesday. Despite the storm, the landmark Boardwalk -- with its shops, restaurants and casinos -- remained open.















East Coast Storm Grounds Thousands Of Flights


A blizzard has halted operations at some airports in the Northeast, and thousands of flights have been canceled.

No flights will operate at Reagan Washington National or Dulles International airports on Wednesday, according to the Washington Metropolitan Airports Authority.

Travelers are urged to check with their airlines for flight status updates and rebooking policies.

Crews at the Washington airports continue to work on clearing runways.

"We're working, and we're plowing as best we can and then once the winds diminish some, we'll be able to start hauling snow off the airfield as we've been doing for six days now," said spokeswoman Tara Hamilton.

Traveler Demond Vaughan was supposed to fly from New York to Atlanta, Georgia, Wednesday morning, but his flight was canceled.

"Right now, I'm upset. Our plans were to go to a wedding, a Valentine's wedding. ... If we don't go today, the lady said we won't have another flight until Monday. That's going to be terrible for us," Vaughan said.

New York metro area airports were operational Wednesday afternoon, but airlines canceled most flights in and out of LaGuardia, Newark Liberty International and John F. Kennedy International airports.

Operations will continue for as long as crews can keep the runways clear, said Steve Coleman, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Most airlines canceled Wednesday flights in and out of Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, according to the airport's Web site. Some airlines have canceled flights through Thursday morning.

Delta Air Lines has temporarily ceased flights in and out of Washington, Baltimore, Maryland, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the majority of flights are canceled in and out of New York and Boston, Massachusetts, Delta spokesman Anthony Black said. The airline has canceled 900 Wednesday flights.

United Airlines canceled about 600 Wednesday flights, according to spokeswoman Sarah Massier. More than 1,000 flights on US Airways and its affiliate US Airways Express have been canceled, according to the airline.

Continental Airlines canceled 850 flights Wednesday, including all flights at the airline's Newark hub, according airline spokesperson Macky Osorio.

American Airlines and American Eagle canceled about 500 flights Wednesday, according to spokesman Tim Smith. The airline's operations in the Washington area have been suspended through noon ET Thursday. American's operations in Philadelphia have ground to a halt and are expected to resume Thursday morning.


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Sources: CNN, Google Maps