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NASA satellites film major snowstorm approaching East Coast

The powerful storm is expected to drop one to two feet of snow on the Eastern Seaboard.

By Brooks Hays
NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite captured this image of the winter storm moving across the middle of the United States on Wednesday. It's expected to drop large amounts of snow on the Mid-Atlantic beginning on Friday. Photo by NASA Goddard Rapid Response
NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite captured this image of the winter storm moving across the middle of the United States on Wednesday. It's expected to drop large amounts of snow on the Mid-Atlantic beginning on Friday. Photo by NASA Goddard Rapid Response

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Weather satellites jointly managed by NOAA and NASA have been watching the development of a massive winter storm as it gains steam over the middle of the country.

On Thursday, the agencies released a video of the low pressure system as it moves closer to the East Coast.

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The powerful storm is expected to drop upwards of two feet of snow on the Eastern Seaboard. A blizzard warning is effect for Baltimore, Washington, D.C. and the surrounding area. Bands of significant snowfall could stretch as far north as Boston.

The new 21-second video pieces together both infrared and visible imagery from NOAA's GOES-East satellite. The satellite data was gathered between January 19 and 21, and shows two storm systems.

The first smaller system moved across the southern U.S. and Appalachian Mountains on Wednesday and Wednesday night. The second storm is much bigger.

"This latter feature takes over and becomes a dominant force in setting up heavy snow bands over the Mid-Atlantic and very gusty winds," the National Weather Service said.

In addition to potentially record-breaking snowfall, the storm is expected to bring hurricane-force gusts and dangerous storm surges to coastal areas.

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