Winter storm expected to threaten travel chaos on U.S. east coast

Forecasters warned on Friday that a deluge of snow and wintery conditions could bring travel chaos to the U.S. northeast this weekend, with some 25 million people subject to a storm warning.

Several cities in the eastern United States, including New York, the most populous city in the country, have gone record periods without winter snowfall.

The National Weather Service (NWS) said in a winter storm warning that "travel could be nearly impossible" in places over the weekend, threatening chaos for travelers returning from winter breaks.

As of 7 p.m. Saturday local time, only half a centimeter of snow had been recorded in Central Park, and the NWS was forecasting only 2 centimeters of accumulation before the storm moves out to sea late on Sunday night.

The weather service also warned of minor urban flooding and the possibility of roads being glazed with ice. The affected area stretches from just outside Boston, inland across the northeast through parts of New England down towards Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

Ice was likely to cause power outages and fell trees, forecasters warned as winter storm Ember closed in on heavily populated areas. 

"(A) winter storm watch has been issued for Saturday morning through Saturday evening," the NWS said in a forecast that warned up to 3 inches (7.62 centimeters) of snow and sleet could accumulate in highly-populated areas. "Low pressure will bring wintry precipitation to portions of the region Saturday into Saturday evening."

The governor of New York state ordered an emergency response in anticipation of the large coastal weather system.

"We anticipate heavy, wet snowfall across various regions, potentially causing power outages and hazardous travel. I urge New Yorkers to be vigilant," said governor Kathy Hochul in a statement.    

The state had 1,617 large plow trucks and 36 snow blowers on hand to meet the challenge, Hochul's statement said.

In the Brooklyn borough of New York, hardware stores were selling shovels and salt to residents preparing for the storm front.

(With input from AFP and Reuters)