Millions of people in the eastern U.S. are bracing themselves for a powerful storm system that is expected to bring a wintry mix of precipitation to the region. The storm is predicted to reach North Carolina by Saturday morning and then move along the northeastern coastline throughout the weekend. Philadelphia and other major cities could experience snowfall amounts not seen in years, with the heaviest snowfall expected in areas such as the Poconos in Pennsylvania, parts of the Hudson Valley, and portions of New England.

Winter storm warnings and watches have been issued for much of the Northeast. Chris Stachelski, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service, warned that localized accumulations of snowfall could exceed one foot in areas of higher elevation. However, the main concern for many areas is ice, with up to a quarter of an inch of ice forecasted for parts of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and West Virginia.

Despite the anticipated snowstorm, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu stated that the city was not expecting it to be a major event and that the timing of the snowfall would likely have less impact on city life. Storm surges, which are often problematic during winter storms, were also not expected. Mayor Wu expressed relief, saying, "We are thankfully hoping that the projections stay where they have been trending, which is that the weather really will begin tomorrow evening into Sunday and hopefully let up in time for it to be taken care of before Monday commutes and Monday starts to school."

This storm may end the snowfall drought that has been setting records across the eastern U.S. Philadelphia, for example, reached 705 consecutive days with less than an inch of snow through Friday, surpassing the previous record of 661 days that ended in 1973. New York City went 691 days without significant snowfall, breaking the previous record of 383 days that ended in 1998. Baltimore also set a record with 707 snowless days through Friday, surpassing the prior record of 672 days that ended in 2012. Warmer-than-normal temperatures have made it difficult for precipitation to fall as snow. Recent storms in the Northeast brought warm air from the South and rain instead of snow due to the effects of El Nino, which prevented cold air from interacting with moisture brought by storms.

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont noted that it has been over two years since the state experienced a major storm of this magnitude, with 6 to 12 inches of snowfall expected. The state's transportation department is prepared with about 900 drivers on duty, including 630 snow plows, and approximately 200 contractors working on state highways. However, there are currently 115 vacancies in the driver pool, and the state is also experiencing a shortage of contractors.

Parts of central Maine were severely impacted by a December storm that caused flooding and power outages for over 400,000 customers. Although only a few hundred customers were still without power on Friday, authorities in the state warned residents to prepare for the upcoming weekend storm. They also cautioned that another storm could closely follow, arriving on Tuesday into Wednesday, bringing more snow, rain, and hazardous road conditions.

Maine Emergency Management Agency Director Pete Rogers urged residents to stay updated on forecasts and prepare themselves in advance. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and are ready to respond to any emergencies that may arise.