(CNN) -- Virginia's governor declared a state of emergency Friday as a winter storm expected to pummel the East Coast this weekend began dumping snow in Virginia and North Carolina.
The storm is forecast to blast a narrow corridor from Richmond, Virginia, to Fredericksville, Pennsylvania, leaving interstates 95, 81, 64 and possibly 80 covered in significant snow, CNN meteorologist Chad Meyers said.
Meyers said areas like Charlottesville, Virginia, may rake in some of the highest snowfall accumulations, depending on how quickly the storm moves and whether it remains on course.
In Lenoir and Caldwell counties in North Carolina, especially heavy snow was causing havoc on the roads, with more than 170 car wrecks reported, according to CNN affiliate WBTV in Charlotte.
Depending on residents' locations along the corridor, residents may see no snowfall or 20 inches, Meyers said, noting that there may be only a 50- or 60-mile difference between the two.
A winter storm warning was in effect for East Coast metropolitan areas including Washington; Baltimore, Maryland; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, according to the National Weather Service. It is expected to cause chaos for weekend travelers and Christmas shoppers.
Weather delay informationFAA: Check air travel delays DOT: Check road travel delays
The storm comes at a pivotal time for Washington, where the Senate is embroiled in a contentious battle over the health care reform bill. Wintry conditions could delay commutes to work over the weekend.
The National Weather Service in Washington increased its projections for the city to between 10 and 20 inches of snow, Meyers said.
In Maryland, state highway officials are spraying a salt brine solution on highways and roads in hopes of keeping the snow from piling up and sticking, CNN affiliate WBAL-TV in Baltimore reported.
The Baltimore Ravens pushed back the starting time of their Sunday football game from 1 to 4:15 p.m. because of the storm, according to the team's site.
Video: Wintry wonderland in Asheville
In Asheville, North Carolina, snow covered the roads, making for difficult commutes. Some residents, like iReporter Ed Jenest, figured it was better to just stay home.
"It's a great day not to go anywhere," he said, noting that about 4 to 6 inches of snow had fallen in Easy Asheville about 2 p.m. ET. "We're listening to music, and we've got a fire going."
Air travelers en route to holiday destinations may face delays, said Tammy Jones, spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration.
With snow expected to cloak much of the Northeast, the FAA may institute a ground-delay program if air travel conditions warrant. In such a case, the FAA informs the airlines at a certain airport that they will have to stay on the ground for a period of time, Jones said.
"Snow's not so significant if you're in the air, but on the ground, it can be problematic," Jones said.
A storm system developing over the northern Gulf of Mexico will move northeast up the mid-Atlantic on Saturday and "will produce a swath of heavy snowfall," the Weather Service said.
Is snow headed your way? Share photos and video of the wintry scene
Southeastern New York may get 6 to 8 inches of snow, while Manhattan and central and eastern Long Island may get up to a foot. Blizzard conditions are also possible for Long Island, where winds are expected to hit 50 mph Saturday evening and Sunday morning.
Mark Fayer, vice president of Long Island Transit Express bus service, which serves metropolitan New York, said he expected normal operations despite a little snow.
"We will be operating our normal schedules; we don't anticipate any delays that we can't handle," Fayer said.
Winter storm warnings are in effect for eastern Kentucky, western and central North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia, Delaware, Maryland and parts of Pennsylvania.
Journalist Craig Johnson contributed to this report.
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Source: http://www.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/12/18/wintry.weather/index.html?eref=igoogle_cnn
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