FT Chronicle

United States has faced another snowstorm to blanket some of its states moving up the Atlantic Coast as officials warned of up to 20 inches of snow and significant power outages.

People stocked up on groceries and other staples Friday after the National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings from the Carolinas to Rhode Island.

In Virginia, Gov. Tim Kaine declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm, placing the National Guard and other agencies on standby.

Philadelphia officials also declared a state of emergency and the school district canceled all weekend activities.

Washington, D.C., declared a snow emergency.

Due to travel conditions to be dangerous, departing flights in international airports were delayed while others had already canceled most of their Saturday flights. The storm has brought traffic accidents in the roads and electrical outage. Some injuries were reported, but no fatalities.

Forecasters expected up to 20 inches of snow through late Saturday from the Washington metro area to West Virginia. They said it could be the most snow in the nation’s capital since a February 2003 storm dumped nearly 27 inches at Baltimore-Washington International Airport.

The storm came from the Gulf and drenched South Florida with rain starting late Thursday, leaving flooded homes and stranded drivers.