Snow in Northeast could cut power to millions

Video: East Coast braces for major snow storm

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2. Transcript of: East Coast braces for major snow storm

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   BRIAN WILLIAMS, anchor: We are covering the development tonight of a major winter storm . The problem is it's still October. Before this storm is over it will have come all the way across the country, and before it's over 60 million Americans will feel the effects of snow or wind or rain or in some cases all three. This is the same storm that just roared through Denver and dumped a foot of snow or more there. And the big problem for the Eastern Seaboard is this, because of our weird summer and fall, a lot of leaves are still on the trees and that doesn't mix well with freezing precipitation. Meteorologist Chris Warren is with us from Weather Channel headquarters, and look at that, you've got on the screen there. Chris , good evening.

   CHRIS WARREN reporting: Good evening to you, too, Brian . We are talking about snow. And the reason the leaves still on the trees is important because we're expecting this very heavy and wet snow and a lot of it. And when it lands on the leaves, it weighs down the branches. You get the branches snapping, falling on power lines and knocking out power. When it's all said and done , by Sunday millions of people could be in the dark. Let's look now at the timing as this area of low pressure moves up the East Coast , starting off in the morning on Saturday into the afternoon. Most areas seeing the snow will be inland locations, away from the water. That changes overnight Saturday to Sunday morning. And when it's all said and done , the next two days, the inland locations from central Pennsylvania to central Massachusetts could see more than a foot of snow. New York City , we're looking at two to four inches. But the closer you are to the water, it's going to be a matter of miles where you get nothing or you could see a couple of inches. So, Brian , we are looking at the potential for a historic storm.

   WILLIAMS: Could be routine in January or February. But again, it is still October. Chris Warren , Weather Channel headquarters, thanks, as always.

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