Northeast Digs In for Big Storm

Residents of mid-Atlantic and New England states began feverish preparations Saturday for a potentially epic snowstorm that could dump from 1 to 2 feet of snow on the region by the time the storm ends Tuesday.

The growing likelihood of a huge storm was caused by the freakish convergence of two major weather systems--a freezing blast of air from Canada and a wet, wind-driven storm barreling up from the south--that could produce record amounts of snow and wind gusts of up to 60 mph over a three-day period, said Michael Eckert, a senior meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

Unlike classic “nor’easters,” which are driven primarily by wet weather moving up the Eastern Seaboard, the approaching storm is more typical of extreme weather patterns that occur over Canada or well out to sea, over the Atlantic Ocean, Eckert said. “We don’t see things happen like this very often. It’s a potentially major weather event,” he added.

Maybe one for the record books: Although New York has been hit with snowstorms ranging from 16 to 26 inches over the last 100 years, the spectacle of two massive storms merging into one hasn’t been seen in the region since 1966, weather experts said. In that storm, blizzard conditions virtually immobilized New England and New York, and Washington, D.C., also received several feet of snow; areas east of Lake Ontario received 2 to 3 feet of snow, Eckert added.

If the weather forecasts hold, moderate snow is expected to start falling near Washington, D.C., and in the northeast late this afternoon, developing into a driving snowfall lasting 24 to 36 hours, said George Klein, a weather service meteorologist. Temperatures are likely to fall into the 20s, with the snow finally turning to rain before the system moves out to sea.

As news of the storm spread, residents up and down the Eastern Seaboard began the drill of stocking up on groceries and snapping up equipment to clear snow from roads, driveways and automobiles once it starts falling. At Home Depot in Brooklyn, N.Y., hundreds of customers on Saturday bought up the store’s remaining supplies of snow shovels, salt and snow blowers.

“We got nothing left; the customers got it all,” a weary clerk said. “This time, it looks like people are getting ready for the really big one.”

Transportation officials in New York, Connecticut and New Jersey urged motorists to stay home if at all possible when the snowfall begins, to ease the removal of snow. Meanwhile, in New York City, the sanitation department was on maximum alert, with more than 1,500 snowplows and 300 salt spreaders readied for action.

Officials throughout the area were gearing up for what could be massive commuting headaches if the storm, as expected, continues through Monday morning. Also, although no details have been provided, there were expected to be widespread school closings on Monday if storm forecasts prove correct, officials said. Metropolitan Transit Authority officials suggested Saturday that there could be disruptions in some rapid transit operations as well.

If there was a bright side, it’s that residents have received ample warning of the storm as it begins to take shape. In a city hall news conference, New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani jokingly urged New Yorkers to dig in tonight and enjoy the television season debut of “The Sopranos”.

Spring is less than three weeks away, he said, “so let’s all be hopeful.”