East Coast Hunkers Down For Winter Superstorm

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The National Weather Service office in Bismarck is helping track the blizzard that's hitting the East Coast.

The Bismarck Tribune reports the Bismarck station has launched two extra weather balloons each day since Wednesday to help track the storm that forecasters say could rank near the top 10 ever to hit the region.

Some areas could more than 2 feet of snow. Several states and the District of Columbia have declared states of emergency. The federal government is shutting down at noon.

The National Weather Service operates more than 80 stations that send data-gathering balloons up twice a day. Bismarck meteorologist Zach Hargrove says most of the stations in the eastern half of the country have been doing special balloon launches this week.