Isn't it unusual for the National Weather Service to issue a warning this early?

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
143 PM EST THU FEB 4 2010
KENT-INLAND SUSSEX-DELAWARE BEACHES-OCEAN-CUMBERLAND-ATLANTIC-
CAPE MAY-ATLANTIC COASTAL CAPE MAY-COASTAL ATLANTIC-COASTAL OCEAN-
SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...DOVER...GEORGETOWN...REHOBOTH BEACH...
JACKSON...MILLVILLE...HAMMONTON...CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE...
OCEAN CITY...ATLANTIC CITY...LONG BEACH ISLAND...
WHARTON STATE FOREST
143 PM EST THU FEB 4 2010

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM FRIDAY TO 7 PM EST
SATURDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOUNT HOLLY HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM FRIDAY TO 7 PM EST
SATURDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

A STORM SYSTEM DEVELOPING OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO TODAY WILL PASS
OFF THE CAROLINA COAST FRIDAY NIGHT AND THEN CONTINUE TO THE
NORTHEAST ON SATURDAY. SNOW FROM THIS SYSTEM WILL OVERSPREAD THE
REGION FROM SOUTH TO NORTH FRIDAY AFTERNOON...THEN CONTINUE THROUGH MUCH
OF SATURDAY. SNOWFALL TOTALS OF 12 TO 18 INCHES ARE EXPECTED NEAR THE
DELAWARE AND CENTRAL NEW JERSEY COAST WITH UP TO 24 INCHES
POSSIBLE OVER SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY AND THE CENTRAL DELMARVA.
STRENGTHENING WINDS FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY WILL CREATE BLOWING
AND DRIFTING SNOW WHICH WILL REDUCE VISIBILITIES TO UNDER ONE-
QUARTER MILE AT TIMES.

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND POOR
VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT
CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. CONTINUE TO
MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS FROM YOUR NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.