Winter Storm Jonas in the Mid-Atlantic: 1 Dead in Virginia as D.C., Baltimore Hunker Down

One person has died as a result of winter weather as Winter Storm Jonas swept through the mid-Atlantic states and into the Washington D.C. area Friday. The Virginia State Police have reported a weather-related fatalitie in the city of Chesapeake, Virginia, but no other information was available Friday evening. 

Washington D.C. and Baltimore are now under blizzard warnings, and the region can expect the following from Jonas:

• 1 to 2 feet of snow across much of West Virginia and Virginia, except along the coast, now through Saturday.
• Upwards of 2 feet of snow in Washington D.C. and western Maryland starting Friday. Smaller accumulations in eastern Maryland, though much of the state is expected to receive at least a foot of snow.
• Wind gusts over 40 mph possible Friday night through Saturday, leading to dangerous or impossible travel conditions.

(MORE: Travel Forecast)

Shortly after, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan also declared a state of emergency early Thursday afternoon, as did D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. Friday morning, West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin declared a state of emergency.

Here's what each state in the mid-Atlantic region is doing to prepare for Jonas.

Virginia

The Virginia State Police is reporting one weather-related traffic fatality, which occured Friday afternoon in the city of Chesapeake as a result of Winter Storm Jonas. No other information was available as of Friday evening.

Conditions on state roadways quickly went downhill as the snowfall arrived Friday morning. From midnight to 6 p.m., the state police responded to 841 traffic crashes and another 607 disabled vehicles across the state. State police dispatch centers fielded a total of 2,850 total calls for service during that same time period.

In Wythe county, two women suffered life-threatening injuries in a five-vehicle accident Friday afternoon on Interstate 81 South in Wythe County which closed I-81 for a few hours, WDBJ reports. 

According to state police, a vehicle headed south on I-81 spun out, sparking a chain-reaction crash involving two tractor-trailers, a pickup truck hauling a trailer, and a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The Sonata was pinned between the two tractor-trailers. The driver and passenger were taken to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The snow also forced the Virginia General Assembly to close for just the second time in 48 years due to winter weather, according to the Washington Post.

In addition to the emergency declaration, Virginia Transportation Secretary Aubrey Layne warned drivers to stay off the roads for the entirety of the storm, according to the Associated Press. With parts of the state expected to receive upwards of two feet of snow in the coming days, crews are already working around-the-clock to get prepared, NBC News reported.

"For a storm of this size, we're really looking at mobilizing just about everything we can, including our hired equipment, as wells as our pre-treatment ahead of it," Jason Bond, Transportation Department spokesperson, told NBC News.

(MORE: Dos and Don'ts of Winter Storm Preparation)

A men's college basketball game between the University of Virginia and Syracuse University has been moved from Saturday to Sunday.

The Virginia Department of Transportation has a website that allows you to track the state's snow plows in real-time; click here to see that map.

Washington D.C.

Mayor Bowser advised people to stay off the roads Friday evening as snowfall totals climbed in the nation's capital. 

"Unless you're a first responder, you don't need to be on our roads," she said in a press conference, as reported by WUSA.

Bowser also requested Hummers with the ability to traverse the snowy roads so National Guard members can reach areas all over the city to respond to emergencies, WJLA.com reported.The city also recruited 2,000 volunteers to help shovel snow over the weekend, she added.

"Our approach is to ask residents to help each other and we're asking everyone to look in on their neighbors," said Bowser.

Travel in the region has been crippled by the massive storm. Nearly than 400 flights out of Baltimore/Washington International, Reagan National Airport and Dulles International Airport were canceled as of Friday evening, according to FlightAware.

United Airlines suspended all flights from Dulles International Airport and other D.C. area airports as of Friday evening

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority suspended Metrorail, Metrobus and MetroAccess service during the blizzard, according to a news release. At 11 p.m. Friday, the train system was shut down and will remain closed through Sunday. Bus service was shut down at 5 p.m. Friday and the MetroAccess transit service for customers with disabilities was suspended Friday after 6 p.m.

“This is not a storm that anyone should take lightly," said Metro general manager/CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld. “The actions we are taking ... are all in the interest of our customers’ and employees’ safety, and will help us return to service once the storm passes and the snow is cleared.”

D.C. taxis will charge an extra $15 for trips starting Friday morning, according to NBC Washington. The fee was added to encourage drivers to continue working through Friday afternoon, the report added. The Capital Bikeshare program closed its stations and shut down service Friday evening through Saturday, WJLA reports. 

(MORE: 12 Things You Should Have Before a Big Snowstorm Hits)

The National Hockey League announced Thursday that the Washington Capitals home game scheduled for Friday will start at 5 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. due to the snowstorm and change in Metro service, according to a news release from the Verizon Center. 

A Friday night professional hockey game between the Washington Capitals and Anaheim Ducks was postponed, as was Friday night's NBA game between the Washington Wizards and Utah Jazz.

Maryland

Statewide snow emergency plans were announced Friday afternoon, which require vehicles traveling on all highways designated as snow emergency routes be equipped with chains, snow tires or all season radials. 

“Please avoid traveling during the storm to allow our crews the space needed to plow the roads,” said State Highway Administration official Gregory Johnson said. “Our goal is to keep one travel lane open and passable on major highways for emergency vehicles during the storm and focus on plowing all lanes once the snow stops.”

The Baltimore City Department of Transportation implemented Phase II of the city’s Snow Emergency Plan at 6:00 p.m, Friday, which requires all vehicles traveling on city roadways to be equipped with snow tires, all season radials or chains and bans parking along designated Snow Emergency Routes. 

The Maryland Transit Administration planned to suspended all transit services prior to midnight Friday, depending on weather conditions, and all transit will continue to be suspended throughout the weekend. 

Slick conditions were already causing problems across the region Friday evening. Harford County EMS posted to their Facebook page Friday evening that motor vehicle collisions with injuries were "beginning in force" across the county, located northeast of Baltimore.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan told WBAL-TV that the state is well equipped to handle the mess on the roads. 

"We have a lot of salt on hand because we've had a very mild winter so far," Hogan told WBAL-TV. "All the guys are chomping at the bit to go out there and plow some snow because they haven't been overworked and they're ready for the big first one."

(MORE: Where Snow May Not Be the Worst Impact from This Storm)

The Baltimore Parking Authority offered residents free parking from 6 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Monday to residents in at least 4 different garages around the city. The U.S. Postal Service announced that all Maryland offices will be closed at 3 p.m. Friday, according to the AP, but they're hopeful Saturday delivery will go on as planned.

West Virginia

More than 80 emergency calls were reported in Kanawha County, where the state capital of Charleston is located, by late Friday afternoon, the county's Emergency Operations Center told WCHS.

As of about 5 p.m., the county had received 87 total calls, an EOC spokesman said. The calls included 21 accidents, eight of which were reported to have injuries, and 39 disabled vehicles. Vehicles abandoned on the side of the road were making it difficult for snow plows to clear some roadways, including parts of Interstate 64, the station reported. 

The West Virginia Department of Highways shut down tractor trailer traffic Friday evening from mile marker 58 on I-64 westbound in Charleston to mile marker 47 I-64 westbound in Cross Lanes, WOWK reported. Passenger vehicles are still allowed on the interstate, but are requested to stay off roadways if possible.

Slick conditions were also causing problems in Bridgeport. 

"There have been several accidents reported throughout the city," Laura Pysz, City Director of Emergency Management told WBOY. "With more people traveling on the roads please use caution and take your time. There have been several accidents reported throughout the City. Please only travel if absolutely necessary. You will only put yourself, transportation crews, and emergency service personnel at risk if you are unnecessarily on the roadways".

West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin declared a state of emergency Friday due to this weekend's snowstorm.

The declaration Friday activates state resources to address winter conditions and keep residents safe. The West Virginia National Guard, Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety and the Department of Transportation are among those activated to help.

(WATCH: Ice Storm Expected With Jonas)

The West Virginia Metro News said the American Red Cross is monitoring the entire state and will be prepared to open shelters anywhere they're needed.

“Because of the widespread nature and the fact that it’s going to be cold and people are going to have a hard time out on the road to provide things for themselves should the power go out,” Alan Coberly, American Red Cross Public Affairs spokesperson, told the Metro News.