Heavy Snow Covers East, Closes Schools, Airports, U.S. Offices : Southern Storm Goes North, Drops Up to 20 Inches

Heavy, wet snow blanketed parts of the East today, shutting down the federal government, airports and schools, leaving thousands without power and wreaking havoc for commuters.

Up to 20 inches fell as the storm moved up from the South and over Virginia, Washington, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. Temperatures hovered around the freezing mark.

“Everything’s stuck. Troopers, salt trucks, everybody,” said a state police dispatcher in central Maryland, where at least a foot of snow had fallen.

Washington Airports

The two major airports serving the nation’s capital, Dulles and National, closed as more than 10 inches of snow covered the runways, but they reopened by mid-morning. Other airports in the region reported shutdowns or delays.

Federal workers in the Baltimore and Washington areas were told not to report to work today. City offices closed in Philadelphia as its western suburbs received up to five inches of snow per hour.

District of Columbia public works spokeswoman Tara Hamilton said the city received about 200 reports of downed trees blocking roadways. Power was reported cut to 110,000 residents of the district and its Maryland suburbs.

Snow in the capital was heavy Sunday night during a White House dinner for the nation’s governors. After dinner, as the guests were having coffee, President Reagan looked outside and asked Mrs. Reagan, “Honey, have we got enough cots?”

Day Off From School

Schools were closed in Philadelphia and Baltimore, as well other parts of Maryland. The Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., also canceled classes as more than a foot of snow covered Maryland and Delaware.

Downington, Pa., had 20 inches of snow by this morning, while 18 inches fell in Valley Forge, Pa.; 16 inches in Owings Mills, Md.; 14 in Wilmington, Del.; 13 in Martinsburg, W.Va., and Lakehurst, N.J., and 12 in Philadelphia.

Limited states of emergency were declared in New Jersey and Delaware, allowing deployment of the National Guard to help emergency crews get through the snow.

In the New York City area, strong winds piled snow into drifts on roads, making driving treacherous. New Jersey Turnpike officials lowered the speed limit to 35 m.p.h. along the entire roadway and banned motorcycles and trailers.

Long Island Rail Road commuter trains were delayed about 15 minutes and Long Island University closed all six of its campuses.

The National Weather Service said the snow was spawned by a storm system off the Virginia coast. It was expected to end by early afternoon.