SCRAMBLE FOR SUPPLIES

The storm arrived in the Washington area, home to about 6 million people, after dropping 5 inches (13 cm) of snow in Arkansas and spreading a wintry mess of snow, sleet and freezing rain in parts of Tennessee and Kentucky.

In addition to several inches of snow, the Charlotte, North Carolina, area could get up to a half inch (1.3 cm) of ice, causing concerns about power outages and dangerous driving conditions, officials said. Other parts of the state could get a foot of snow.

Federal offices in the Washington area closed at noon on Friday to allow employees to get home before the snow began piling up. City officials said everyone except emergency workers should stay off the streets.

Many residents had scrambled to prepare ahead of the storm, picking stores clean of bottled water, food and other supplies.

"I have nine cases of wine, half and half and coffee, firewood and all my devices are charged. All I need now is a wing and a prayer," said Liz Scherer, 54, who works out of her home in the Washington suburb of Silver Spring, Maryland.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, which includes the second-busiest U.S. subway system, took the rare step of suspending operations from late Friday through Sunday.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which operates New York City subway and commuter rail lines, expected to operate normal service, Cuomo said, as did New Jersey Transit.

The forecast prompted the Virginia National Guard to bring in about 300 troops to deal with emergencies. In New York, 600 National Guard personnel were on standby.