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'Crippling' snow storm could slam US east coast 'Crippling' snow storm could slam US east coast
(about 2 hours later)
Hundreds of thousands of people along the US mid-Atlantic region should be bracing for "perhaps crippling" snow, the National Weather Service has said. Millions of people along the US mid-Atlantic region should be bracing for "perhaps crippling" snow, the National Weather Service has said.
Forecasters say up to 16in (40.6cm) of snow could fall over the weekend in an area that spans big cities such as Washington and Philadelphia. Forecasters say two feet of snow could fall over the weekend in some areas, with Washington to bear the brunt.
Blizzard warnings have been issued in some areas, warning of heavy winds and wet snow could lead to power outages. There are warnings the blizzard could cause power outages and bring road and air travel to a halt.
Earlier storms on Wednesday left drivers in hours-long gridlock. A light dusting of snow on Wednesday night caused gridlock in Washington, raising fears about what is ahead.
Crews have cleared roads in the Washington, Virginia and Maryland areas after a small storm left roads icy just ahead of rush hour commutes. Routine commutes lasted up to three hours and some people abandoned their cars, after an inch fell - a fraction of what is expected on Friday and Saturday.
There were reports of otherwise routine short commutes lasting up to three hours, and of some people abandoning their cars.
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser tweeted an apology to her constituents, saying that officials had "failed to deploy the necessary resources in response to the snow - for that I am sorry".Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser tweeted an apology to her constituents, saying that officials had "failed to deploy the necessary resources in response to the snow - for that I am sorry".
Among those affected was President Barack Obama, whose motorcade spent an hour and 12 minutes trying to get him from an airport back to the White House - a trip that typically takes about a half hour.Among those affected was President Barack Obama, whose motorcade spent an hour and 12 minutes trying to get him from an airport back to the White House - a trip that typically takes about a half hour.
However, National Weather Service forecasters are warning that Wednesday's storms were just a prelude to a powerful storm that will hit the region on Friday and last until Saturday night.
The details of the coming storm remain uncertain.The details of the coming storm remain uncertain.
When exactly the storm will begin and predictions of the amount of snow that will fall have varied.When exactly the storm will begin and predictions of the amount of snow that will fall have varied.
Some estimates are saying more than 20in of snow could hit the US capital.
"There's a lot of details that are yet to be seen," Rich Otto of the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center said. "Subtle changes can make a big difference. We've seen that in storms in the past.""There's a lot of details that are yet to be seen," Rich Otto of the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center said. "Subtle changes can make a big difference. We've seen that in storms in the past."
Across the US east coast at a glance:Across the US east coast at a glance: