Blizzard dumps heavy snow on US Mid-Atlantic (1st Lead)

Feb 6, 2010, 4:26 GMT

Washington - A blizzard shut down the US capital Friday night as it emptied roads and crashed power lines across the US Mid-Atlantic region.

Maximum snowfall predictions escalated from 60 to 75 centimetres, and the National Weather Centre said it expected 'record' depths in Baltimore and Washington. Fifteen centimetres had fallen in the area by 10 pm (0300 GMT Saturday).

Winds up to 65 kilometres an hour were predicted for 24 hours, starting at 10 pm, the centre said.

'Travel conditions will be extremely hazardous and life-threatening,' it said.

Washington's metro system closed its above-ground stations Friday night, and bus service was also halted.

Few drivers were seen on major Washington thoroughfares, such as Wisconsin Avenue, which continues into the Maryland suburbs, a stretch normally packed with cars on a Friday night as residents visit its restaurants and stores.

As the snow fell, however, only McDonald's and an all-night CVS pharmacy were open.

Virginia declared a state of emergency even before the first flake fell around noon Friday. Universities and schools were closed, and government offices shut down several hours ahead of schedule to enable people to head home before the snowstorm hit.

Local pundits were calling the storm 'snowmageddon' and 'snowcopalypse.' Grocery stores had empty shelves after residents prepared for a long weekend at home.

The storm system - a result of the El Nino weather affect, meteorologists said - has been heading up from the south all week, where it dropped rain and lesser amounts of snow.

Winter storm warnings were in place from southern Indiana eastwards to New York City and south to North Carolina. The blizzard warnings included Philadelphia, Delaware and the New Jersey coast, according to the National Weather Service.

Delta Airlines canceled all flights to and from Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia Saturday but said it hoped to revert to normal schedules Sunday.

Amtrak cancelled most of its train services from Washington headed south.

Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty declared a snow emergency, which went into effect Friday morning and prevents people from parking on certain streets so snow plows can get through.

The Washington region received a good icing in December when 40 centimetres fell. The record snowfall for the capital region was 70 centimetres in January 1922.