Video above: Snowfall rates of 2-4 inches per hour possible in New EnglandThe nor'easter churning along the East Coast on Saturday is threatening a dangerous mix of heavy snow and high-speed winds for millions of Americans — and could develop into a historic storm for parts of eastern New England, according to forecasters.The combination of howling winds — as strong as 70 miles per hour in some areas -- along with fast-accumulating snow is a recipe for blizzard conditions, particularly in the New England states.Nearly 55 million people, stretching from the Mid-Atlantic to New England, were under winter weather alerts Saturday morning.Whiteout conditions are expected across the region, and several governors declared states of emergency as they urged residents to stay off roads. There are also warnings of coastal flooding and the possibility of power outages due to downed utility lines.And while the storm's path has been uncertain in the run-up to this winter storm, key points were clearer Saturday.Between 2 to 6 inches of snow had fallen early Saturday in parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast — with more on the way.More than 12 inches of snow are expected to blanket parts of the Mid-Atlantic Coast through eastern New England, the NWS Weather Prediction Center said Friday afternoon. The Boston metro area faced the potential of more than 2 feet of snow that's expected to collect quickly.Blizzard warnings issued Friday covered 10 million people across 10 states in coastal counties from New England to Virginia. Notable locations included Portland, Maine; Boston and Cape Cod, Massachusetts; the eastern half of New York's Long Island; Atlantic City, New Jersey; and Ocean City, Maryland.Travel will be difficult to impossible due to whiteout conditions, the NWS predicted. In a blizzard, snow is joined by winds gusting over 35 mph for more than three hours, creating visibility of less than a quarter of a mile."The strong-to-damaging winds will lead to scattered power outages," the NWS warned.There is "high confidence" this will be a "historic major winter storm for eastern New England," with widespread snowfall of one to two feet, the National Weather Service said Friday evening.Plus, extremely cold temperatures and coastal flooding are possible, the Weather Prediction Center warned."Coastal flooding is a concern thanks to astronomically high tides on Saturday," the weather service office in Boston said. "The combination of strong northeast winds and high seas will bring storm surges that, if coinciding with high tide, would lead to minor or moderate coastal flooding." Already, more than 3,000 flights had been canceled as of Friday night, according to FlightAware.These northeastern states expected to see the worst of it Eastern Massachusetts, including Boston, will bear the brunt of the system as forecast models predict between 18 to 24 inches of snow combined with wind gusts up to 70 mph.Two to 4 inches per hour could fall in Boston, with conditions likely to peak between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday. Similar snow total and wind predictions are in place for Rhode Island.Boston declared a "snow emergency" that began Friday at 9 p.m."This could be a Top 10 snowfall on record for the Boston area, as we are forecasting the potential for about 2 feet or more in a lot of areas of easternmost Massachusetts," WCVB Meteorologist Cindy Fitzgibbon said. "This is going to be an incredible amount of snow."The Massachusetts Department of Transportation implemented a travel ban for large trucks on interstate highways for Saturday because of the severe winter weather forecast.The travel ban will take effect "Saturday between 6:00 a.m. through midnight for tractor trailer trucks, tandems and special permit haulers," MassDOT said.Rhode Island Gov. Daniel McKee declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm and took precautions a step further by signing a travel ban beginning Saturday at 8 a.m. through 8 p.m. due to whiteout conditions.Plus, parts of New Hampshire, Maine, and Long Island, New York, will see some of the heaviest snowfall ranging from 12 to 24 inches of snow, with some local areas seeing higher projections.Amtrak canceled train service on Saturday for various lines, including Acela service between Washington, D.C., and Boston and regional service between Boston and New York, the company said Friday. Tri-state area, Pennsylvania and DelawareMeanwhile, the governors of New York and New Jersey also declared states of emergency.New York City could get 6 to 12 inches of snow with 45 mph gusts, while 14 inches could pile up elsewhere in New York state as well as Connecticut, where wind gusts may be as strong as 55 mph, the weather service predicted.But the weather service early Friday said there is a 10% chance the storm may dump more than 17 inches of snow in New York City and also predicts a 10% chance of 4 inches of snow.The impact in New York City will peak from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.As a precaution, all Long Island Rail Road service will be suspended beginning Saturday morning, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said.Across the Hudson River, northeast New Jersey could see 7 to 10 inches of snow, with winds gusting up to 45 mph.The southern portion of New Jersey may see up to 18 inches of snow, and projections are similar in southern Delaware, according to the NWS.And the Philadelphia area in eastern Pennsylvania is also expected to get 4 to 11 inches of snow.Maryland, Virginia and North CarolinaThe governors of Maryland and Virginia issued states of emergency in their states, where a blizzard warning is in effect in some areas through Saturday night.Between 8 and 12 inches of snow could pile up in parts of southeast Maryland and eastern and southeast Virginia, where winds are expected to gust as high as 50 mph.Snow projections in central North Carolina are lower, with 1 to 2 inches expected as a winter weather advisory remains in places until 9 a.m. Saturday, the NWS said."Hazardous travel conditions will result from slippery or snow-covered roads. Snow may also reduce visibility to less than a mile overnight," NWS said in the advisory.
Video above: Snowfall rates of 2-4 inches per hour possible in New England
The nor'easter churning along the East Coast on Saturday is threatening a dangerous mix of heavy snow and high-speed winds for millions of Americans — and could develop into a historic storm for parts of eastern New England, according to forecasters.
The combination of howling winds — as strong as 70 miles per hour in some areas -- along with fast-accumulating snow is a recipe for blizzard conditions, particularly in the New England states.
Nearly 55 million people, stretching from the Mid-Atlantic to New England, were under winter weather alerts Saturday morning.
Whiteout conditions are expected across the region, and several governors declared states of emergency as they urged residents to stay off roads. There are also warnings of coastal flooding and the possibility of power outages due to downed utility lines.
And while the storm's path has been uncertain in the run-up to this winter storm, key points were clearer Saturday.
Between 2 to 6 inches of snow had fallen early Saturday in parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast — with more on the way.
More than 12 inches of snow are expected to blanket parts of the Mid-Atlantic Coast through eastern New England, the NWS Weather Prediction Center said Friday afternoon. The Boston metro area faced the potential of more than 2 feet of snow that's expected to collect quickly.
Blizzard warnings issued Friday covered 10 million people across 10 states in coastal counties from New England to Virginia. Notable locations included Portland, Maine; Boston and Cape Cod, Massachusetts; the eastern half of New York's Long Island; Atlantic City, New Jersey; and Ocean City, Maryland.
Travel will be difficult to impossible due to whiteout conditions, the NWS predicted. In a blizzard, snow is joined by winds gusting over 35 mph for more than three hours, creating visibility of less than a quarter of a mile.
"The strong-to-damaging winds will lead to scattered power outages," the NWS warned.
There is "high confidence" this will be a "historic major winter storm for eastern New England," with widespread snowfall of one to two feet, the National Weather Service said Friday evening.
Plus, extremely cold temperatures and coastal flooding are possible, the Weather Prediction Center warned.
"Coastal flooding is a concern thanks to astronomically high tides on Saturday," the weather service office in Boston said. "The combination of strong northeast winds and high seas will bring storm surges that, if coinciding with high tide, would lead to minor or moderate coastal flooding."
Already, more than 3,000 flights had been canceled as of Friday night, according to FlightAware.
These northeastern states expected to see the worst of it
Eastern Massachusetts, including Boston, will bear the brunt of the system as forecast models predict between 18 to 24 inches of snow combined with wind gusts up to 70 mph.
Two to 4 inches per hour could fall in Boston, with conditions likely to peak between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday. Similar snow total and wind predictions are in place for Rhode Island.
Boston declared a "snow emergency" that began Friday at 9 p.m.
"This could be a Top 10 snowfall on record for the Boston area, as we are forecasting the potential for about 2 feet or more in a lot of areas of easternmost Massachusetts," WCVB Meteorologist Cindy Fitzgibbon said. "This is going to be an incredible amount of snow."
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation implemented a travel ban for large trucks on interstate highways for Saturday because of the severe winter weather forecast.
The travel ban will take effect "Saturday between 6:00 a.m. through midnight for tractor trailer trucks, tandems and special permit haulers," MassDOT said.
Rhode Island Gov. Daniel McKee declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm and took precautions a step further by signing a travel ban beginning Saturday at 8 a.m. through 8 p.m. due to whiteout conditions.
Plus, parts of New Hampshire, Maine, and Long Island, New York, will see some of the heaviest snowfall ranging from 12 to 24 inches of snow, with some local areas seeing higher projections.
Amtrak canceled train service on Saturday for various lines, including Acela service between Washington, D.C., and Boston and regional service between Boston and New York, the company said Friday.
Tri-state area, Pennsylvania and Delaware
Meanwhile, the governors of New York and New Jersey also declared states of emergency.
New York City could get 6 to 12 inches of snow with 45 mph gusts, while 14 inches could pile up elsewhere in New York state as well as Connecticut, where wind gusts may be as strong as 55 mph, the weather service predicted.
But the weather service early Friday said there is a 10% chance the storm may dump more than 17 inches of snow in New York City and also predicts a 10% chance of 4 inches of snow.
The impact in New York City will peak from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
As a precaution, all Long Island Rail Road service will be suspended beginning Saturday morning, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said.
Across the Hudson River, northeast New Jersey could see 7 to 10 inches of snow, with winds gusting up to 45 mph.
The southern portion of New Jersey may see up to 18 inches of snow, and projections are similar in southern Delaware, according to the NWS.
And the Philadelphia area in eastern Pennsylvania is also expected to get 4 to 11 inches of snow.
Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina
The governors of Maryland and Virginia issued states of emergency in their states, where a blizzard warning is in effect in some areas through Saturday night.
Between 8 and 12 inches of snow could pile up in parts of southeast Maryland and eastern and southeast Virginia, where winds are expected to gust as high as 50 mph.
Snow projections in central North Carolina are lower, with 1 to 2 inches expected as a winter weather advisory remains in places until 9 a.m. Saturday, the NWS said.
"Hazardous travel conditions will result from slippery or snow-covered roads. Snow may also reduce visibility to less than a mile overnight," NWS said in the advisory.
