Powerful snowstorm hits US East Coast

A ferocious storm pummelled the US mid-Atlantic on Saturday, dumping large amounts of snow and causing travel to grind to a halt.                                           

Snowfall totals of 20 to 30 inches (51 to 76 cm) are forecast from Virginia to southern New Jersey by Saturday evening when the storm is expected to move out to sea.                                           

About 10 inches (25 cm) of snow had fallen by 1 am EST (0600 GMT) in Washington, DC Local weather forecasters said the storm could bring the heaviest snowfall in 90 years to the Washington area.                                           

Strong winds caused blizzard conditions, especially along the mid-Atlantic coast, with gusts up to 40 mph (64 kph).                                           

Most flights were cancelled on Saturday at the Washington-Baltimore area's three main airports and at Philadelphia International Airport.                                           

Driving in the region was treacherous and authorities advised motorists to stay off the roads.                                           

Washington's Metro train service will operate only underground on Saturday and bus service has been cancelled.                                           

Amtrak cancelled a number of trains operating on Saturday between New York and Washington and also between Washington and some destinations to the south.                                           

Thousands of homes lost power in the Washington area as the wet and heavy snow weighed down trees and power lines.                                           

The storm brought school closings and long lines at supermarkets on Friday as frenzied area residents rushed to stock up on groceries and other supplies ahead of a traditional party weekend for watching Sunday's Super Bowl football game.                                           

Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia each declared snow emergencies, allowing them to activate emergency agencies, including the National Guard, to help prepare for the wintry onslaught and cope with its aftermath.                                           

The storm prompted US government offices in the Washington area to close their doors four hours early on Friday.                                           

The Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo will be closed Saturday in Washington.                                           

Unseasonably cold temperatures were expected in the storm's wake next week in the US Northeast, which is the world's biggest heating oil market, and the Midwest, a large natural gas demand centre.                                           

The cold helped boost New York's spot natural gas market toward winter season highs on Friday, 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.                                           

"Once we get through the weekend storm, much colder air will invade the Northeast and mid-Atlantic. The outlook for the northeast third of the country next week is looking much colder than normal," said Jim Rouiller, a senior energy meteorologist at private weather forecaster Planalytics.                                           

The same weather system brought heavy rains to parts of the southeastern United States including the Carolinas and Georgia while fuelling itself with fresh moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.