Intense Snowstorm Could Bring a Foot of Snow For Some

Phillips said as of 5 a.m., the weather service was still anticipating five to six inches of snow for the city, and Philadelphia was under a winter storm warning until late Thursday morning.

The storm was expected to hit eastern Pennsylvania and northern New Jersey with rain early Thursday morning, before changing over to snow in time for the morning commute. It will be breezy and cloudy.

The winter blast comes a day after much of the Northeast saw spring-like weather, with temperatures of 50 to 60 degrees.

The National Weather Service says heavy snow and scattered thunderstorms, with rates of almost 2-3 inches per hour, may be seen in these areas. Scores of school districts, including Boston and New York City, shut down.

“Everyone runs out for groceries ahead of a storm, but don’t forget to fill your gas tank and pack your vehicle emergency kit”, said Ken Grant, manager of public and government affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic.

Hundreds of schools closed as well, including Boston and Philadelphia, as well as the nation’s largest public school system in New York City, which was likely welcome news to many of its more than 1 million schoolchildren.

Blizzard conditions have been confirmed in MA and Rhode Island, including the areas of Boston, Hyannis, Marshfield, New Bedford, Block Island, Providence and Westerly.

A blizzard warning means that heavy snow and strong winds will significantly reduce visibility.

Temperatures will warm a little this weekend, with highs in the 40s under mostly cloudy skies. Boston is looking at a possible snow total of 18 inches.

New Jersey: State government offices are closed for non-essential employees, as are courts.

Alaska Airlines: As of 4:30 pm EST, the airline has only cancelled two flights between Seattle and New York’s JFK. In some cases, Friday flights are already being canceled, including in places like Boston.

One that touched down east of downtown New Orleans was rated at least an EF2, considered a significant tornado with winds between 111 and 135 miles per hour, CNN affiliate WDSU-TV reported. West Hartford, Connecticut, had more than 13 inches, and Ludlow, Massachusetts, 16½.

Mayor Jim Kenney couldn’t help but chuckle at a Thursday press conference about the day’s snow emergency, calling it a “non-storm”. Reports say Saturday could see a wintry mix of snow or patchy freezing drizzle in many areas. There were windy conditions at the time but no wind restrictions that applied to the truck, and authorities have not determined a cause of the accident, a Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel official said. Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said snow plow drivers were going to have a “long night” working on icy roads.