UPDATE: The Maryland DOT just posted this: “Governor Larry Hogan this evening has ordered the immediate closure of the entire 34.7-mile length of I-270 and I-70 from I-81 in Washington County to the Baltimore Beltway. The highways will remain closed until 7 a.m. on Sunday to all motorists except for emergency personnel. The closures follow snow related traffic incidents involving several tractor trailers and other vehicles on both interstates.
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UPDATE: This from the Virginia DOT on Saturday morning:
Motorists should stay off the roads to avoid treacherous conditions and give plows plenty of room to do their job.
What’s good to know now:
- Most roads throughout Virginia are in moderate to severe condition. Moderate condition means that a layer of snow or ice covers the roadway and severe means that significant amounts of snow remain on the road surface.
- Additional snow and cold temperatures will make driving conditions dangerous and travel is not encouraged.
- Visibility may be an issue due to blowing and drifting snow.
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The toll from Winter Storm Jonas continues to mount as the storm moves to the Northeast. Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia and parts of other states all declared states of emergencies.
Check out The Weather Channel’s latest Interstate Travel Forecast. Most states dealing with the storm are advising against any travel.
Here are seven things you need to know about Jonas, which arrived in the East Friday and continues spreading havoc up the Atlantic Coast.
- It’s HUGE. This storm has 65 million Americans in 17 states in its sights and under blizzard warnings, and another 21 million under watches and advisories from the National Weather Service. Some 22 million of us have more than a foot of snow from the storm. USA Today reported that 101,000 people were without power in North Carolina alone Friday.
- Ice, Ice, Baby! If the records amounts of snow — as much as three feet in some locations — weren’t enough, Winter Storm Jonas is also bringing ice to the party. Parts of the I-95 corridor could get as much as an inch of ice. And, high winds are blowing snow already on the ground, making driving difficult if not impossible.
- Hang On Until Sunday. Forecasters say all of the precipitation in Winter Storm Jonas is expected to move into the Atlantic Ocean early Sunday morning and temperatures are expected to inch above freezing.
- How Much Snow So Far? According to the National Weather Service, the storm delivered 16 inches of snow to eastern Kentucky as of Friday, Jan. 22, afternoon. A foot of snow fell in the mountains of western North Carolina. Parts of southwest Virginia got a foot. About six inches fell on parts of Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, West Virginia and Arkansas. Washington, D.C. received a foot on Friday and is in for about the same today (Saturday, Jan. 23). Philadelphia got a foot and is in for more. New York City is expecting two feet of snow and gale force winds.
- Even The Big Boys Feel Effects. UPS and FedEx, the two biggest carriers in the U.S., are not immune to the wrath of Jonas. Both have told customers to expect delays, and UPS plans no pickups or deliveries in the storm’s area.
- How One Company Is Handling It: West Chester, Pa. carrier A. Duie Pyle posted this on the front page of its website: “All of our service centers are operational. In an effort to make sure our customers’ shipments are positioned for on-time delivery and to avoid the unsafe driving conditions expected with the storm, our line haul operation will run earlier than normal on Friday night. As a result late pickups and trailer swaps throughout the Northeast region could be impacted. In addition there will be no service to parts of northern Virginia, Washington DC and southern Maryland due to the timing of the storm.”
- Beyond Bread, Milk & Toilet Paper. If you don’t already have these things, Ryder System suggests this checklist of items truck drivers ought to have with them during the winter:
- Flashlights with extra batteries
- Cell phone power charger and external batteries
- First aid kit with pocket knife
- Extra blankets and sleeping bags
- Matches Extra set of mittens, socks and hats, gloves and winter jacket
- Rain gear
- Small sack of sand to aid tire traction
- Small shovel
- Set of tools: pliers, wrench, screwdriver
- Booster cables
- Tire chains or traction mats
- Canned fruit and nuts
- Manual can opener
- Bottled water
Here is how Winter Storm Jonas has looked around the country:
Coverage via MSNBC:
Coverage via CBN News:
Live Snow Cams From Winter Storm Jonas in NC:
In the eye of Winter Storm Jonas:
Hudson Valley braces for first major snowfall:
