Fierce winds whipped through Washington announcing a blizzard that is expected to bring 12 more inches to the already snow covered city.The second major snowstorm to hit the east coast in less than a week, forced federal and local government agencies to close. The storm comes as residents were still trying to dig out from weekend snowfalls of 18 to 32 inches from Washington to southern New Jersey. Some struggled to restock refrigerators and clear fallen trees ahead of the new storm. Schools were closed across much of the region, and many canceled classes for the rest of the week. Cities across the Northeast ground to a halt as the National Weather Service predicted blizzard conditions up the coast with up to 16 inches in New York City, up to 22 inches in Philadelphia and 12 inches in Washington. Hundreds of flights were canceled in the three cities and airlines relaxed ticket policies to allow passengers to change their plans without penalty, moves that could cloud the outlook for an industry already hard hit by the battered economy. Three hours from Washington, in Williamsburg, Virginia, a highway was closed for hours as crews worked to clear a 50-vehicle accident scene. Only seven people were transferred to hospital with minor injuries.
