The region's second snowstorm in less than two months could be “extremely dangerous,” the National Weather Service said. Heavy, wet snow and strong winds would make travel hazardous as the storm gains strength into Friday night.

Two highways deaths were blamed on snow as the storm started in Virginia. Light flakes started falling around noon  in downtown D.C. as forecasters warned 30 inches or more of heavy, wet snow, accompanied by powerful winds, could fall through Saturday in Washington, Baltimore and surroundings. It could be the heaviest snowfall since January 1922 in the US capital.

Airlines canceled flights across the region and school districts closed for the day ahead of the winter storm forecast from Virginia and West Virginia across Maryland into southern New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Some flights at Reagan National Airport were delayed Friday morning. At least 18 afternoon flights were canceled, including those run by Delta and US Airways.

Residents in the Washington area scrambled for food and supplies, but many found they were too late.

In Alexandria, Virginia, James Ivery, 60, and his wife had already bought supplies but were back at a supermarket Friday morning to get out of the house one last time before the storm. Many shelves and bins were emptied of milk, vegetables, eggs and cold cuts.