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Powerful snowstorm hits U.S. East Coast
A powerful storm slammed the U.S. mid-Atlantic on Friday, threatening record snowfall in a region heavily dependent on home heating oil and natural gas supplies.
Forecasts calling for 20 to 30 inches (50 to 76 cm) of snow and near-blizzard conditions from Virginia to southern New Jersey prompted U.S. government offices in the Washington area to close their doors four hours early.
President Barack Obama, who previously has made fun of the reaction in Washington to small amounts of snow, was not taking this storm lightly.
"I think even a transplanted Hawaiian to Chicago has sufficient respect for a forecast of nearly two feet (61 cm) of snow," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.
"And being from Alabama, I am happy to inform you I will be getting off the road and watching you all try to drive," Gibbs joked with reporters.
The Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo will be closed Saturday in Washington.
News of the storm brought school closings and long lines at supermarkets as frenzied area residents rushed to stock up on groceries and other supplies ahead of a traditional party weekend for watching the Super Bowl football game on Sunday.
Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia each declared snow emergencies. The declarations allow states to activate emergency agencies including the National Guard to help prepare for the wintry onslaught and cope with its aftermath.
The giant storm system was expected to engulf the cities of Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia in a heavy blanket of snow, while bringing heavy rain to sections of the southeast including the Carolinas and Georgia.
The cold helped boost New York's spot natural gas market toward winter season highs, where prices reached about $11.50 per million British thermal units on average, up more than $4 from Thursday.
Spot gas for Chicago rose 10 cents to above $5.70. Meanwhile, heating oil was little changed.
Forecasts calling for 20 to 30 inches (50 to 76 cm) of snow and near-blizzard conditions from Virginia to southern New Jersey prompted U.S. government offices in the Washington area to close their doors four hours early.
President Barack Obama, who previously has made fun of the reaction in Washington to small amounts of snow, was not taking this storm lightly.
"I think even a transplanted Hawaiian to Chicago has sufficient respect for a forecast of nearly two feet (61 cm) of snow," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.
"And being from Alabama, I am happy to inform you I will be getting off the road and watching you all try to drive," Gibbs joked with reporters.
The Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo will be closed Saturday in Washington.
News of the storm brought school closings and long lines at supermarkets as frenzied area residents rushed to stock up on groceries and other supplies ahead of a traditional party weekend for watching the Super Bowl football game on Sunday.
Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia each declared snow emergencies. The declarations allow states to activate emergency agencies including the National Guard to help prepare for the wintry onslaught and cope with its aftermath.
The giant storm system was expected to engulf the cities of Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia in a heavy blanket of snow, while bringing heavy rain to sections of the southeast including the Carolinas and Georgia.
The cold helped boost New York's spot natural gas market toward winter season highs, where prices reached about $11.50 per million British thermal units on average, up more than $4 from Thursday.
Spot gas for Chicago rose 10 cents to above $5.70. Meanwhile, heating oil was little changed.
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