More than 6,000 flights canceled as the Northeast prepares for a winter storm: NPR

Snow was beginning to accumulate along the East Coast Friday night as a major winter will bring feet of snow and blizzards to parts of New England this weekend.

The National Weather Service warned that the winter storm is expected to “rapidly intensify” during the next 24 hours, bringing up to two feet of snow to parts of the Northeast.

“It’s going to be big,” Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said at a news conference on Friday. “This has the potential to be a historic storm. A huge one.”

A winter storm warning was in effect Friday from Virginia to Maine, according to the National Weather Service, and blizzard warnings spread along the Atlantic Coast. Lighter snow fell south early Friday, including Washington, DC, Baltimore and Philadelphia, before the overnight drive and intensified farther north later Friday.

On Friday afternoon, the Blizzard warning expanded to cover all of Rhode Island, southern Delaware, and parts of Long Island. Coastal areas are expected to see some of the highest accumulations.

As of Friday night, more than 75 million people in 10 states were under winter weather advisories.

Wu declared a snow emergency for Boston early Friday. In anticipation of heavy snow drifts and strong winds, Wu announced a parking ban that will take effect at 9:00 pm on Friday. Under the ban, vehicles parked on major highways and “main arteries” will be towed away.

More than 6,800 flights scheduled for Friday and Saturday were canceled as of Friday night, according to FlightAware, a flight tracking platform.

In Boston, who could see over 18 inches of snow this weekend, at least 93% of flights leaving Logan International Airport on Saturday had been cancelled. At New York’s LaGuardia airport, 97% of flights on Saturday have been cancelled.

Meanwhile, more than 500 JetBlue flights and more than 450 American Airlines flights in the US scheduled for Saturday had been canceled as of Friday night.

Cities in the warning areas began preparations on Thursday. Boston has more than 38,000 tons of salt and more than 850 pieces of equipment for use on local streets, Wu said in a statement.

Gov. Kathy Hochul’s advice to New Yorkers on Friday was “just stay home.” The state Department of Transportation has more than 1,500 large snowplows on hand. The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services is prepared to deploy generators and sandbags, among other items.

“We are monitoring forecasts and making emergency response preparations for whatever this storm system throws our way,” Hochul said in a news release.

Further up the coast, the Maine Emergency Management Agency also encouraged motorists to stay off the roads. Governor Janet Mills urged people to “watch out for road crews and emergency services.”

High winds and blowing snow could create poor visibility, creating “hazardous conditions,” said Peter Rogers, director of the Maine Emergency Management Agency.

Since freezing temperatures are expected, it’s a good idea to keep blankets, extra layers, hats, and gloves in the car. And if you do get caught in a storm, experts encourage you to stay in your car.