Schools, Federal Offices Close as Snow Hits East

A massive snowstorm walloped the eastern United States on Friday, closing schools and sending federal government workers home early in the nation’s capital.

A low pressure system from the Gulf of Mexico was mixing with cold Canadian air to produce the wintry blast that stung much of the East and brushed the Midwest, weather officials said.

The National Weather Service forecast up to 12 inches of snow in parts of the East and as much as 18 inches in the mountains. It posted snow advisories and winter storm warnings from Arkansas to West Virginia.

In Washington, the Office of Personnel Management told nearly 400,000 federal workers to go home early, letting waves of employees depart at 30-minute intervals throughout the afternoon.

It was the first time that the federal government has used the plan, which is designed to help avoid traffic tie-ups.

“Traffic is moving more slowly because people are being cautious, but we’re not hearing of any real problems,” Tara Hamilton, a spokeswoman for the District of Columbia’s public works department, said during the evening rush hour.

Tennessee’s first winter storm of the season brought freezing rain and snow, closing schools and knocking out power to as many as 40,000 homes in Nashville.

The storm put an icy glaze on roads and bridges, making morning rush hour treacherous in cities across the western two-thirds of Tennessee.

“We’ve got wrecks all over the place. It’s like an ice-skating rink out there,” said Linda Ozgowicz of the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

Up to 15 inches of snow was expected for the mountains in North Carolina.