Northeast region braces for snow

Snow was falling around the Northeast on Friday, ushering in what’s predicted to be a massive, possibly historic blizzard, and sending residents scurrying to stock up on food and gas up their cars ahead of the storm poised to dump up to 3 feet of snow from New York City to Boston and beyond.

In New England, it could prove to be among the top 10 snowstorms in history, and perhaps even break Boston’s record of 27.6 inches, set in 2003, the NationalWeather Service said. The heaviest snowfall was expected Friday night and into Saturday. Wind gusts could reach 75 mph. Widespread power failures were feared, along with flooding in coastal areas still recovering from Superstorm Sandy in October.

Philadelphia was looking at a possible 2 to 5 inches. Streets Commissioner Clarena Tolson urged caution for all motorists and pedestrians on the city’s streets. Streets Department crews are expected to spread out by 4:00 p.m. to salt roadways and monitor for snow and icy conditions throughout the evening.

Airlines scratched more than 3,700 flights through Saturday, with the disruptions from the blizzard certain to ripple across the U.S. Amtrak said its Northeast trains will stop running Friday afternoon.

“This one doesn’t come along every day. This is going to be a dangerous winter storm,” said Alan Dunham, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Taunton, Mass. “Wherever you need to get to, get there by Friday afternoon and don’t plan on leaving.”

N.J. deep freeze

In New Jersey, there’s a possibility of snow as the state continues to shiver in Arctic air.

Temperatures started the morning in single digits around most of the state. The National Weather Service says less than an inch of snow may fall over Cape May County today.

Forecasters say a quick moving storm late tomorrow afternoon and evening could bring from 1 to 3 inches of snow over most of the state.

Blizzard warnings were posted for parts of New Jersey.

A New Jersey town hit hard by Superstorm Sandy issued a voluntary evacuation order for areas that are still recovering from that storm. Residents in flood-prone sections of Brick Township were also urged to move their cars to higher ground by 5 p.m. Friday.