Nor'easter dumps up to a foot of snow on Delmarva. Winter weather advisory still in effect
Delmarva awoke to a thick blanket of snow Saturday with more expected to fall during the day.
Blizzard conditions are expected Saturday with winds gusting as high as 45 mph inland but up to 50 mph at the beaches. A blizzard warning, issued by the National Weather Service, was canceled at 1 p.m. for the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia, and for southern Delaware. A winter weather advisory remains in effect until 1 a.m. Sunday for the Eastern Shore.
Total snowfall is estimated to reach 8-13 inches for Wicomico, Worcester and Somerset counties in Maryland, and Accomack and Northampton counties in Virginia, according to the weather service.
In addition to the snow and cold temperatures, Delmarva are expecting minor to locally moderate tidal flooding.
Aa powerful nor'easter forecast for the Northeast from Friday night into Saturday, that's predicted to bring blizzard conditions to coastal areas from Virginia to Maine.
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Early Saturday, WMDT said at least 9 inches of snow had already accumulated in Ocean City, and 8 inches in Salisbury, with more expected throughout the day. In Delaware, the state reported by 7 a.m., Dagsboro at 8.7 inches and Bethany Beach at 8 inches.
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Plan on slippery road conditions. Gusty winds could bring down tree branches.
Travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must travel, warned the National Weather Service, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle.
Multiple jurisdictions declared a state of emergency and snow emergency overnight including Salisbury, which reminded motorists not to park or abandon vehicles in snow emergency routes. Snow contractors were reminded not to push snow into public roads.
Some snow emergency declarations, including Wicomico County's, also require snow tires, all-weather rated radials or chains when operating vehicles on all county roads.
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With travel restricted, many public services were closed Saturday from libraries to dumps. Some medical services were also interrupted. Check before venturing out as some businesses had planned to close in advance of the storm. Bus service in Ocean City was suspended Saturday.
The Monster Truck show at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center canceled its Saturday show, saying those tickets are now valid for Sunday's performance.
Virginia Department of Transportation said Saturday morning that progress has been made on roadways, with sections of interstates and county primary routes in minor condition, and state-maintained primary routes on the Eastern Shore–where the region’s heaviest amounts of snowfall have been reported–are in moderate condition with partial snow coverage.
Virginia DOT had shifted, to the Eastern Shore, an additional 22 trucks equipped with plows and spreaders, for a total of 45; six additional loaders; five tree crews to assist with downed trees, branches and debris that may fall across the roads; a staged, heavy-duty rotator wrecker for assistance as-needed; and an incident management coordinator to assist with clearing incidents and working with heavy-duty equipment.
This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Maryland snow: Blizzard continues in Salisbury to Ocean City
