Teenagers can vote and drive in Delaware, but they may have to wait a few more years before being able to buy a rifle to plink away at a target or go squirrel hunting. House lawmakers were set to vote Tuesday on a bill raising the age for a person to buy a rifle from 18 to 21.

Winter refuses to leave without a fight.

Another powerful storm is heading toward our region, promising to dump several inches of wet, heavy snow Tuesday into Wednesday.

NBC10 First Alert meteorologists are calling it “heart attack” conditions because the mixture of rain and snow will make precipitation extra dense and difficult to shovel.

"It's really a pain to get rid of," NBC10 First Alert meteorologist Steve Sonsa said. 

Medical experts also warn that overexerting yourself while clearing walkways could pose a serious health risk.

"Shoveling heavy, wet snow is comparable to a maximum stress test," said Dr. Vincent Figueredo, chair of cardiology at Philadelphia’s Einstein Medical Center. “That’s OK if you work out regularly and you’re used to having an elevated heart rate.”

If you’re not, be careful.

“Acute exercise can lead to increased heart rate and blood pressure,” Dr. Figueredo explained.

People not accustomed to high intensity exercise should make sure to warm up, stretch and move slowly when clearing walkways. Consider using a small shovel to limit weight. Also, cover your mouth and don’t breath in too much winter air.

“Cold air can cause restriction to the blood vessels and that leads to decreased blood flow to the heart,” Dr. Figueredo said.

In fact, men are more likely to have a heart attack after a snowfall, probably from shoveling snow, according to Canadian researchers.

A 2017 study found a slight increase in heart attacks and deaths following a storm in Quebec. With each day of snow, these likelihoods increased. A single day of snowfall raised a man’s risk of heart attack by just less than one percent, the researchers reported in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

“Men are potentially more likely than women to shovel, particularly after heavy snowfalls,” researchers wrote. “Snow shoveling is a demanding cardiovascular exercise require more than 75 percent of the maximum heart rate, particularly with heavy loads.”

So how should you shovel when push comes to shove?

Pace yourself. Only shovel for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Take breaks in between. If you feel lightheaded, slow down or stop. Be aware of heart attack warning signs: increased heart rate, shortness of breath, more sweating and tightness in the chest.

Shoveling is a tough upper body workout. It strains your heart more than walking or other low intensity cardio, according to Dr. Jon Rittenberger, an associate professor of emergency medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

"You can do some damage to your back if you're not doing it properly," Sonsa added. "If you have cardiac problems, have a neighbor do it for you."

Having said that, protect your lower and upper back. Try to push the snow rather than lifting it. Also, bend at your knees, not your waist, and use your core to do the most work. Your abs, quadracepts, hips and hamstrings will help stabilize your lower body without putting too much strain on your back, according to Adam Bornstein of Born Fitness.

He also recommends gripping the shovel as tightly as possible to avoid spraining wrists. Wear gloves and dress warmly so you’re not rushing to finish. Shoveling safety takes time, and doing it properly could make the difference between enjoying a warm cup of tea after or heading to the doctor’s office.

[[416052183, C]]

Other safety tips for surviving heavy snowfall:

DON’T walk without knowing your surroundings.

Be careful of snow and ice, and take steps slowly. Avoid shortcuts, too. Shortcuts can be dangerous because those paths are less likely to be cleared and treated. Also, be aware of what you’re walking under. Snow or ice could be falling from rooftops or trees.

DON’T sled if you don’t know the hill.

Sledding can be fun, but it can lead to injury if riders aren’t careful. Make sure the hill you choose isn’t too steep and that it has a flat area at the bottom to safely glide to a stop. Avoid sledding in areas the end near a street or parking lot or by ponds, trees or fences. Dress warm to avoid frostbite!

DON’T heat your home with stoves or charcoal grills.

When the power is out, it can be tempting to heat your home by stove or by moving the charcoal grill inside. These heaters release carbon monoxide, and it can poison you without you even knowing because it’s a colorless and odorless gas.

DON’T drink alcohol to stay warm.

Alcohol might make you feel warm, but it’s an old myth (sorry!). Alcohol actually decreases your core temperature and reverses some reflexes that control body temperature, like shivering, according to The New York Times and a study by the Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine.

Here are six things that may help keep you and your loved ones safe in a snowstorm.

The first wave of a major nor'easter that will lash the Philadelphia region with heavy snow, sleet, flooding, and high winds arrived late Tuesday morning.

It'll be nearly 36 hours before the winter storm moves out. In its wake, more than a foot of wet snow will pile up in some neighborhoods. High winds combined with the snow will likely bring down trees and power lines leading to widespread power outages.

Travel on Wednesday will be perilous. There will likely be mass cancellations of air, rail, and transit travel. More than 200 flights heading to and leaving from Philadelphia International Airport were cancelled Tuesday.

Track the storm with the NBC10 First Alert Weather Live Interactive Radar

"This is not one of those storms that you can just wait out," First Alert Weather meterologist Glenn "Hurricane" Schwartz said. "This one is an all day event and it will probably be worse in the afternoon Wednesday."

A First Alert is in effect from noon Tuesday through late Wednesday night. The National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Warning lasting from Tuesday night through early Thursday.

This nor'easter — the fourth this month and arriving on the first day of spring — will strike in two parts. Tuesday's segment started with rain and light snow spreading from Delaware and South Jersey to the north and west. By the afternoon, the storm will intensify and rain down sleet which will make for slippery travel.

There could be a slight lull late Tuesday night, but don't let that fool you. The worst will come Wednesday.

Colder temperatures, coupled with heavy snow bands, will allow the snow to accumulate on roads and sidewalks. Travel will be difficult, especially in the afternoon. Our meterologists are advising that people stay home if they can.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission will ban motorcycles, empty straight CDL-weighted trucks, double trailers, tractors hauling empty trailers, and any trailers pulled by motorcycles, passenger vehicles, pickup trucks or sport utility vehicles starting at 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Schools in the Philadelphia suburbs dismissed early Tuesday. It's expected that most school districts in the Philadelphia region will shut down Wednesday. Sign up for free school closing alerts here.

The Lehigh Valley may fare best in this nor'easter, like others, with some of the lower snow totals.

So how much snow could we see overall? Here's a breakdown (with the caveat that these anticipated amounts could go up or down):

2 to 5 Inches

Jersey Shore including Atlantic City and Cape May; Southern Delaware

4 to 8 Inches

Most of Delaware; the Lehigh Valley including Allentown; Most of Berks County.

6 to 12 Inches

Philadelphia; northen Delaware including Wilmington; All of Delaware, Chester, Montgomery, Bucks, Mercer, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem counties

The snow will be heavy and wet. Any sleet will compact the snow that accumulates so it may appear that there is less snow, but it'll be strenious to shovel. Those with heart conditions or back troubles should avoid shoveling.

Besides the heavy, wet snow, winds will also be gusting between 35 and 50 miles per hour at the coast on Tuesday. Wednesday gusts could top 60 miles per hour. Inland we could see gusts of 30 to 40 miles per hour.

Coastal flooding is also a big concern, and is forecasted to be the worst of the past four storms. Swells will top out at 12 feet, and significant flooding is expected Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

Winter storms this late in the season are not rare, but are trickier to forecast. The computer modeled forecasts have been disagreeing about many aspects of the storm (some models have been contradictory). So that means things can change every few hours.

We'll be updating our forecast with the latest data as we get it, so it's important to check back often with NBC10 on TV and online to stay informed.

You can watch snow fall with the exclusive NBC10 SnowCam along South Broad Street in Center City, Philadelphia. Check back throughout Tuesday and Wednesday for updated views of the snow. Several inches of snow are expected.

• Track the storm with NBC10's LIVE Interactive Radar
• DOWNLOAD: NBC10 App
• SHARE: Send Your Snow Pics
• LATEST: School Closings/Dismissals

Snow fell in Wilmington, Delware as spring arrived Tuesday. A first-day-of-spring tradition is going on anyway as Rita's gives out free water ice.

The majority leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives is quitting elective politics, blaming his aborted candidacy for the U.S. House on a new map that put him in the same district as an incumbent congressman from the same party.

Republican state Rep. Dave Reed of Indiana County said Tuesday he made the decision because he doesn't want to challenge GOP U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson.

Reed's in his eighth term and isn't seeking re-election to the state House.

He said he doesn't have plans for a new job but has eight months to figure that out.

Reed says the state of American politics is "more divisive and more negative" than he'd like.

As House Republican leader, he's head of a caucus that controls the chamber, 121 to 82.

Sea Isle City is already experiencing a wintry mix as Nor'easter No. 4 moves in Tuesday.

More than 240 flights scheduled Tuesday to arrive at or depart from Philadelphia International Airport have already been canceled, by far the most in the country.

A spokeswoman for the airport said American Airlines had already canceled more than half of its scheduled upcoming flights by early Tuesday afternoon. Airlines, she said, are asking passengers to change their travel plans.

"Overall, we expected more than 50 percent of today's flights will be canceled," spokeswoman Mary Flannery said in an email. On average, the airport handles about 1,000 flights each day.

Of the 450-plus cancellations at airports across the United States, Philadelphia was at the top of both infamous categories of arrivals and departures that will not be happening, according to the tracking website FlightAware.

The snow storm that began in the Philadelphia region at noon Tuesday is to blame. It's the fourth nor'easter in a month, and most damaging to the prospects of flying out of or into Philadelphia is that the hazardous conditions will last 36 hours.

Up to a foot of snow will fall in many places across southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, according to the NBC10 First Alert Weather Team. Strong winds and flooding in coastal towns are also forecast.

Mass transit, including trains on SEPTA, PATCO, Amtrak and NJ Transit, is expected to be adversely affected starting Tuesday evening. The worst conditions, and the most cancellations of trains, buses and city elevated lines, will likely begin early Wednesday and last throughout the day. 

SEPTA General Manager Jeff Kneuppel said he hopes people who use Regional Rail will get an early train Tuesday out of Philadelphia. He said Wedneday will be a very difficult travel day for anyone using the system. 

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has issued restrictions on certain vehicles traveling state highways, starting at 8 p.m. Tuesday. Here is a link to the full list of restrictions. They concern commercial trucking, hauling trailers, motorcycles and RVs.

What do you do when the electricity goes out? Now, you can Plug In, and Power Up! 

NBC10 and Telemundo62 are partnering with Comcast to offer viewers who lose power the ability to recharge their devices at Xfinity store locations throughout the region. As power outages occur, listed locations will serve as Plug In, Power Up sites to assist viewers in need. Anyone is welcome to take advantage of this FREE service.

Download the NBC10 app for latest weather conditions, and check this page frequently for updates.

LOCATIONS:

Pennsylvania

3903 Aramingo Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19137
Store Hours: Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

1351 South Columbus Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19147
Store Hours: Monday – Saturday, 9a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. 

2329 Cottman Ave. #14
Philadelphia, PA 19149
Store Hours: Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

106 Bartlett Ave.
Exton, PA 19341
Store Hours: Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

116 Township Line Rd. #500
Havertown, PA 19083
Store Hours: Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

130 Town Square Place
King of Prussia, PA 19406
Store Hours: Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. 

518 Oxford Valley Rd.
Langhorne, PA 19047
Store Hours: Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

2510 W. Moreland Rd.
Willow Grove, PA 19090
Store Hours: Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

New Jersey 

941 Haddonfield Rd.
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
Store Hours: Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

3371 US-1
Mercer Mall
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
Store Hours: Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

500 Consumer Square
May’s Landing, NJ 08330
Store Hours: Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

2160 N 2nd St.
Millville, NJ 08332
Store Hours: Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

42 Centerton Rd. #H-1
Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054
Store Hours: Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

1500 Rt. 47
Rio Grande, NJ 08242
Store Hours: Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

1256 Hooper Ave.
Toms River, NJ 08753
Store Hours: Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

3841 Route 42
Turnersville, NJ 08012
Store Hours: Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

2345 US Highway 22
Center Island
Union, NJ 07083
Store Hours: Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

495 Prospect Ave #509
West Orange, NJ 07052
Store Hours: Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

Delaware

5601 Concord Pike
Wilmington, DE 19803
Store Hours: Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Due to severe weather, participating locations are subject to change.

With the fourth nor'easter of March expected to bring eight to 14 inches of snow to our area, city officials announced a snow emergency for Philadelphia scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday. Here's our complete guide.

PHILLY SCHOOLS
All School District of Philadelphia schools and administrative offices are closed Wednesday. All after-school activities will be canceled and all district early childhood centers will be closed as well.

All archdiocesan high schools and parochial elementary schools in the city of Philadelphia will be closed Wednesday.

Check here for a full list of school closings across the area.

PARKING
All parked cars must be moved off Snow Emergency routes for plowing. When moving your car, park as far from the corner of the street as possible as vehicles parked too close to the corner get in the way of snow plows turning corners.

Check the full list of Snow Emergency routes HERE.

Any vehicles left on Snow Emergency routes will be moved to other parking spots. If your car is moved, call 215-686-SNOW but DO NOT call 911.

The Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) will offer a flat 24-hour $5 parking rate at the following garages in Center City from Tuesday at 7 p.m. until the snow emergency is lifted.

• AutoPark at Independence Mall (5th & Market Streets)

• AutoPark at Jefferson (10th & Ludlow Streets)

• AutoPark at the Gallery (10th & Filbert Streets)

• AutoPark at Old City (2nd & Sansom Streets)

• Parkade on 8th (801 Filbert Street)

• Philadelphia Family Court Garage (1503-11 Arch Street - Going south on 15th Street, enter the garage on the west side just after 15th & Cherry St.)

Customers must bring their ticket and pay at the PPA Management Office in each garage to receive the discounted $5 rate.

If you’re driving Wednesday, use caution and give yourself extra time.

SALTING/PLOWING
The Philadelphia Streets Department, which has more than 35,000 tons of salt and over 400 pieces of equipment available, mobilized at 4 p.m. Tuesday. Crews will begin salting streets throughout the night and will begin plowing as the snow accumulates.

CITY GOVERNMENT
All municipal city offices in Philadelphia will be closed Wednesday.

PHILLY COURTS, PRISONS  
All courts and offices of the Philadelphia Courts will be closed. All critical services are expected to remain operational.

All inmate visits at Philadelphia prisons are canceled Wednesday.

TRASH AND RECYCLING
All trash and recycling collections Wednesday will be suspended. If you normally have collections on Wednesday, hold your trash and recycling until Thursday. Thursday and Friday collections will also be delayed one day and residents should be prepared for further delays depending on how severe the storm is.

SEPTA
SEPTA will operate Regional Rail on a Severe Storm Schedule Wednesday. Get more information HERE.

AIRPORT
More than 240 flights scheduled Tuesday to arrive at or depart from Philadelphia International Airport were canceled, by far the most in the country. If you’re traveling or picking someone up at Philadelphia International Airport check their flight status before leaving. Get more information on the Philly International website or call 1-800-PHL-GATE.

HOMELESS OUTREACH
Philly’s homeless outreach teams will patrol the streets and urge homeless people to come to local shelters. If you’re concerned about someone who is homeless, call the Outreach Coordination Center at 215-232-1984 at any time.

PET SAFETY
If you see a pet outside during the extreme cold, call the ACCT Philly hotline at 267-385-3800. Owners who leave their dogs outside in extreme cold without proper shelter can be fined up to $500.

LINKS

• Office of Emergency Management
  

• SEPTA
  

• Philly 311
  

• Philadelphia School District
  

• Philadelphia International Airport
  

• Philadelphia Parking Authority
  

The Pennsylvania midterms are just months away. Tuesday was the deadline for candidates to declare their intentions to run, and NBC10 compiled a list of the biggest races to watch in our area.

Keep in mind that this list will change as candidates drop out. They have until March 27 to do so.

GOVERNOR

Two people were killed in a multi-vehicle crash in Horsham, Pennsylvania Tuesday night.

The crash, which involved three vehicles, occurred on Easton Road and West Moreland Avenue around 6:30 p.m. Two people died in the accident. Officials have not yet revealed their identities.

Rain and sleet from a nor'easter set to bring heavy snow to our area Wednesday was falling across the region at the time of the crash. It’s not yet confirmed if the weather played a role in the accident. 

This story is developing. Check back for updates.

Getting a winter blast like this in late march is not uncommon for Philadelphia. Here is a look at some of the biggest snowstorms to hit the city in March.

Wednesday's no'easter is causing high tides and heavy winds at the Jersey Shore. Residents of Brigantine are preparing accordingly.

Some streets in Ocean City, New Jersey flooded midday Wednsday as a nor'easter lashed the Jersey Shore.

Snow is covering the roads Wednesday in Chester Springs. We expect conditions to worsen as the day goes on so it is best to stay off the roads.

Wednesday’s snow caused dozens of area attractions to close for the day.

Here is a list of some of the closures. If you don’t see a place on the list be sure to call ahead. Also this isn’t an extensive list so please let us know of any closures we have missed by contacting us.

Also take note that the 2018 PIAA Basketball Championships, where several local teams are still alive, have been postponed until March 26 to 28.

CLOSED IN PHILLY:

Academy of Natural Sciences

American Philosophical Society Museum

Barnes Foundation

Betsy Ross House

City Hall Visitor Center

Eastern State Penitentiary

Franklin Institute

Free Library System

Ikea South Philadelphia

Independence National Historical Park

Independence Seaport Museum

Independence Visitor Center

Museum of the American Revolution

Mutter Museum

National Constitution Center

National Liberty Museum

National Museum of American Jewish History

Penn Museum

Philadelphia Insectarium & Butterfly Pavilion

Philadelphia Mills

Philadelphia Museum of Art

Philadelphia Zoo

Philly Magic Gardens

Please Touch Museum

Rodin Museum

Rosenbach Museum and Library

Simeone Foundation Auto Museum

Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse 

Woodmere Art Museum

CLOSED IN PENNSYLVANIA SUBURBS:

Brandywine River Museum of Art

Elmwood Park Zoo

Exton Square Mall

Neshaminy Mall - closed at noon

Oxford Valley Mall

Philadelphia Premium Outlets

Plymouth Meeting Mall - closed at noon

Springfield Mall - closed at 1 p.m.

Suburban Square

Willow Grove Park Mall - closed at noon

CLOSED IN NEW JERSEY:

Adventure Aquarium

Battleship New Jersey

Cherry Hill Mall - closed at 1 p.m.

Gloucester Premium Outlets

Grounds for Sculpture

Moorestown Mall - closed at 1 p.m.

CLOSED IN DELAWARE:

Concord Mall - Closed at 1 p.m.

Delaware Art Museum

Delaware Children's Museum

Delaware Museum of Natural History

Hagley Museum and Library

Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library

Looking for something that is open?

Not much is open but Wawas around the region seem like popular options. You can check with local malls and restauarants to see if they are open before you go.

A fire tore through a North Philadelphia home overnight leaving a man dead and four first responders hurt. The man died in the Berks Street home. The firefighters battling the blaze were treated for minor injuries and two paramedics suffered minor injuries when they crashed while responding to the scene.