Dozens of flights both in and out of the Ottawa airport were cancelled Thursday night ahead of Friday’s expected snowstorm and even more flights were delayed.

“This is the big thing that you always worry about, that you're going to be stuck,” said MP Joan Crockatt.

At one Canadian Tire store in Ottawa’s east end, items like shovels and windshield washer fluid were going fast.

“I think the extra snow caught people off guard,” said Weldon Roebuck with Canadian Tire. “So we had to do a rush order on shovels and a lot more salt this year as well.”

A significant amount of snow is expected throughout the day Friday.

“If I know there's going to be a storm that night or the next day, I always make sure all the provisions are in the house,” said Susan Tucciarone. “I do all my shopping, all my errands the day before so I don't have to drive. If I don't have to drive, I’m not going to drive.”

The north eastern United States is expected to be hit the hardest by this storm.

By Thursday night, nearly 3,000 flights in the U.S. had been cancelled in anticipation of Friday’s storm. It could be the worst storm since 1978.

Blizzard warnings have been issued in Boston and New York City. Schools in Boston will be closed on Friday.

As of Thursday afternoon, Ottawa had received 142.6 cm of snow this season. That amount is far greater than the 88 cm of snow Ottawa received last year.

An average Ottawa winter sees about 236 cm of snow.

With a report from CTV Ottawa’s Katie Griffin