Pa. Storm Updates: Blizzard Threat Imminent, SEPTA To Suspend Service, PHL Cancels Flights

The National Weather Service has upgraded the Blizzard Watch to a Blizzard Warning, advising all residents to prepare now. The Blizzard Warning, which is issued when serious winter weather is imminent, begins at 7 p.m. Friday.

Philadelphia International Airport has cancelled all flights on Saturday, when the worst of the storm will be passing through the region.

SEPTA announced it will suspend service Saturday for at least 24 hours.

Snowfall is expected to start in Southeastern Pennsylvania Friday evening, the NWS said. As much as 18 inches could fall through Sunday, the National Weather Service predicts. Here are the hour-by-hour accumulation estimates by county.

Forecasters are calling the storm ”potentially paralyzing”— whiteout conditions and strong winds are expected during the weather event, according to the NWS.

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The snow will be heavy at times through late Saturday before tapering off by early Sunday morning, the NWS said. The strongest likelihood for blizzard conditions will be during the day Saturday. Wind gusts of up to 40 mph are expected.

Travel will be “extremely dangerous” if not impossible and power outages are likely, the NWS says. Click here for tips to prepare.

Here is the very latest:

• The Blizzard Watch has been upgraded to a Blizzard Warning and goes through Sunday morning.
• A Blizzard Warning is issued when there will be the following conditions, according to the NWS: frequent gusts greater than or equal to 35 mph accompanied by falling and/or blowing snow, frequently reducing visibility to less than 1/4 mile for three hours or more. A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds and poor visibilities are likely, leading to whiteout conditions making travel extremely difficult. Do not travel.
• Gov. Wolf has declared a State of Emergency ahead of the storm. He is urging residents to be calm but prepared.
• As much as 18 inches of snow could fall in parts of the region. Here is the hour-by-hour estimates by county.
• Potential impacts include: significant travel restrictions and power outages. All Saturday flights have been cancelled at Philadelphia International Airport.
• More than 50 million people are in the path of the storm, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

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