Winter Storm Jonas Update: Worst expected starting Friday

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Are you ready for the arrival of Jonas?

National Weather Service forecast map of Winter Storm Jonas for Friday.

Winter Storm Jonas is forecast to deliver blizzard conditions, including  high winds, record amounts of snow, freezing rain and coastal flooding over a large part of the eastern seaboard in the next several days. It is expected to begin its easterly trek this evening, delivering its heaviest punches starting late Friday, Jan. 22 in much of the effected area.

Forecasters continue to warn of snowfall across much of the Mid-South, Ohio Valley the Appalachians, the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Snow is expected to start falling tonight, Thursday, Jan. 21, in the western part of this area and move east, increasing to as much as 2 to 3 feet in some areas along the Atlantic coast. The worst is expected to arrive late Friday afternoon through Saturday. Coastal flooding is also part of Jonas’ forecast.

The National Weather Service, which is calling Jonas a “potentially paralyzing storm,” has issued blizzard watches for:

  • Washington, D.C. and Baltimore from Friday afternoon through 6 a.m. Sunday, which may get up to 2 feet of snow
  • Philadelphia is under a blizzard watch Friday evening through Sunday morning, with as much as 14 inches of snow forecast
  • New York City and the surrounding area is under a blizzard watch Saturday morning through Sunday afternoon. As much as a foot of snow is possible in New York City, Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley.

The Weather Channel offers a comprehensive forecast for travel on the interstates in the region.

Washington Post’s preview and explanation of the storm.

For traffic conditions in Maryland

For traffic conditions in Virginia

For traffic conditions in New York

For traffic conditions in Delaware

For traffic conditions in Washington, D.C.

For traffic conditions in Massachusetts

We expect to post updates here and on our Facebook and Twitter accounts throughout the storm. We want to hear from companies that are changing plans because of the storm and to hear from drivers in it when it arrives. Post in the comments below, on our social media accounts or send an email to [email protected]