Winter storm to bring snow, ice to U.S. East
 More than 1,600 U.S. flights were canceled on Wednesday ahead of an overnight winter storm predicted to dump up to a foot (30 cm)of snow on parts of the eastern United States through Thursday. Kentucky and West Virginia were forecasted to be the hardest hit, National Weather Service meteorologist Brian Hurley said, with some places facing up to 11 inches (28 cm) of snow or sleet. Areas in the mid-Atlantic and the northeast could receive between 4 and 10 inches (10 and 25 cm) as well, he added. West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin mobilized the state's National Guard on Tuesday ahead of the storm, citing the potential snowfall, rain and possible flooding. Boston, which posted its coldest February on record, could see up to 3 inches (8 cm) of snow from the approaching system, said NWS meteorologist Rebecca Gould. If 2 inches (5 cm) or more falls, the city would surpass its record annual snowfall total of nearly 108 inches (274 cm), set in 1995-96, Gould said. The glut of winter storms have taken a toll on the city's commuter ferries and delayed or canceled subway and commuter rail trains over several workdays. The severe weather forecast triggered cancellations of 1,645 flights in the United States by Wednesday evening, with Dallas/Fort Worth International the hardest hit airport, according to FlightAware.com. Snow on Sunday and early Monday fell from Washington, D.C., to New England, leaving 5 to 6 inches (13 to 15 cm) of fresh accumulation in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, according to the National Weather Service. |
