• Two significant storm systems expected to converge overnight across the Northeast, create what could be a historic blizzard
• Boston could get up to 3 feet of snow from Friday to Saturday; New York City could get up to 3 feet
• Read below for updates as we get them; full story here

[Updated at 8:04 p.m. ET] Nearly 3,000 flights have now been canceled in anticipation of the inclement weather, most of which is expected late Friday into Saturday.

Amtrak also has canceled many trips in the Northeast corridor. The rail transit company said on its website that northbound service from New York's Penn Station would be suspended after 1 p.m Friday.

[Updated at 6:51 p.m. ET] Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy says utility companies there are bringing additional crews from out of state to deal with potential power outages. Metro-North rail lines could also be closed at any time should winds exceed 40 mph.

[Updated at 6:03 p.m. ET] A bit more detail on when and where the storm is expected to be at its most nasty: The most severe weather is expected to hit Massachusetts, between 2 and 5 p.m. on Friday.

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick urging people to be off the roads by noon on Friday. Boston's public rail system will be halted at 3:30 p.m.

Urging people to stay off the roads by noon tomorrow. #MAStorm

— Deval Patrick (@MassGovernor) February 7, 2013

[Updated at 4:52 p.m. ET] Although it's been clear for a while that Friday will see a massive amount of flight cancellations involving Northeast airports, we're starting to get specific numbers now.

United Airlines has cancelled 900 flights from 32 airports for Friday because of the storm, according to United spokeswoman Jennifer Dohm. Many of the cancelled flights involve Newark Liberty International Airport, which is a United hub.

JetBlue is cancelling 640 flights ahead of Friday's storm, according to JetBlue spokeswoman Sharon Jones.

One of the major airports in the region, Boston's Logan International Airport, says said the storm is expected to cause many flight cancellations on Friday and well into Saturday.

United Airlines says customers in storm-affected cities will be allowed to reschedule their itineraries "with a one-time date or time change, and the airline will waive the change fees." Delta, Jet Blue, Southwest and other airlines are offering their customers similar assurances.

Weather in the Northeast may impact travel through February 9. We have options to change. bit.ly/Yb0zTC #wx #nemo

— United (@united) February 6, 2013

@delta offers customers ability to make travel changes ahead of winter nor'easter. Details: bit.ly/VWAEAN

— Delta Air Lines News (@DeltaNewsroom) February 6, 2013

[Posted at 4:26 p.m. ET] The National Weather Service has issued blizzard warnings for parts of the U.S. Northeast - including New York City and Boston - ahead of what might become a significant Nor'easter.

The blizzard warnings, issued Thursday afternoon, cover parts of northeastern New Jersey; New York City and Long Island; all of Connecticut and Rhode Island; parts of eastern Massachusetts including Worcester and Boston; and parts of southeastern New Hampshire and southern Maine.

Boston could see up to 3 feet in Boston from Friday to Saturday, with heavy snow falling especially Friday night. At times, 2 to 3 inches per hour could fall there, and wind gusts could approach 60 mph, the weather service says.

Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino has announced that Boston schools will be closed on Friday. The city also announced that non-essential staff members have been asked to stay home on Friday and employers across the city are asked to allow staff to work from home where possible.

In New York City, the heaviest snowfall could occur Friday night with wind gusts of around 40 mph. More than 1 foot of snow is possible there from Friday through Saturday, the weather service says.

The system has already drawn comparisons to the so-called "Great Blizzard" of 1978, when thousands were stranded as fast-moving snow drifts blanketed highways and left several people dead.