‘Blockbuster’ Snow Storm Predictions Put Travel Plans On Ice For East Coast

The East Coast is on target to be hit with what is predicted to be a record winter storm, dumping up to 2 feet of snow in some locations.

The storm, which has been dubbed Winter Storm Gail by The Weather Channel, is expected to hit the mid-Atlantic and Northeast on Wednesday and Thursday, threatening travel across the region.

Forecasters at the National Weather Service have warned that blizzard conditions will ensue, likely leading to “very dangerous, if not impossible, travel conditions and isolated power outages.”

Snow is expected to hit hard and fast as part of the “blockbuster” storm. AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski has warned, "You don't want to be on the road during this storm as you will likely get stuck and stranded for a while.”

Sosnowski continued, "It is the northern and western suburbs from Washington, D.C., to New York City back to part of the I-81 corridor that will bear the brunt of the deep snow and the worst conditions due to blowing and drifting snow.”

Washington, D.C. is forecasted to receive 1 to 2 inches of snow with Philadelphia getting 8 to 12 inches. Other hard-hit areas include New York City, which is expected to receive up to 14 inches, and Boston with up to 12 inches. Ice and wind are also a concern in some of the affected areas, the National Weather Service has said.

Warnings have been issued from northeast Georgia to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, by the National Weather Service.

Airlines have been preparing for the weather impact by issuing travel waivers for passengers that want to avoid the storm, USA Today reported. As of Wednesday morning, flights were still operating in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Boston.

In the wake of the storm, AccuWeather also warned of melting snow, which could freeze, creating conditions that “greatly raise the potential for slip and fall incidents and auto accidents in the days and nights following the snowfall.”