State of Emergency Declared in Washington Ahead of Historic Snowstorm

A state of emergency has been declared in Washington, DC, on Friday morning as a heavy snowstorm approaches the US capital, City Mayor Muriel Bowser said on Thursday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The mayor noted that Washington, DC, public schools will be closed due to the blizzard, while government offices will close early.

"I will declare a snow emergency effective tomorrow morning at 9:30 am," Bowser stated in a press conference.

Two neighboring US states, Maryland and Virginia, have also declared state of emergency ahead of the snowstorm. The announcement requires state agencies to aid local governments in the face of the harsh weather.

"All Virginians should take the threat of this storm seriously and take necessary precautions now to ensure they are prepared for travel disruptions and possible power outages during a cold weather period," Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe said in a press release.

In preparation for the storm, US carrier United Airlines has offered its passengers to change their flights ahead of the blizzard without paying an additional fee. The offer applies to major airports on the East Coast, including Baltimore, Boston, New York, Newark and Washington, DC.