A snowstorm with a ferocity more familiar in February than October socked the Northeast over the weekend, knocking out power to 2.7 million, snarling air and highway travel and dumping more than 2 feet of snow in a few spots as it slowly moved north out of New England. Officials warned it could be days before many see electricity restored. The combination of heavy, wet snow, leaf-laden trees and frigid, gusting winds brought down limbs and power lines. At least three deaths were blamed on the weather, and states of emergency were declared in New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and parts of New York. A breakdown:
- The 750,000 who lost power in Connecticut broke a state record set when Hurricane Irene hit in August. "If you are without power, you should expect to be without power for a prolonged period of time," said Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said last night.
- Western Massachusetts was among the hardest hit. Snowfall totals topped 27 inches in Plainfield, and nearby Windsor had gotten 26 inches by early today. "It's a little startling. I mean, it's only October," said one man.
- More than 600,000 lost electricity in New Jersey, including Gov. Chris Christie.
- More than 22 inches fell in New Hampshire's capital of Concord, weeks ahead of the usual first measurable snowfall.
- Two Vermont ski resorts, Killington and Mount Snow, started the ski season early by opening one trail each over the weekend, and Maine's Sunday River ski resort also opened.
- Parts of New York saw a mix of snow, rain, and slush that made for sheer misery at the Occupy Wall Street encampment. "I had to come out and support," said one of a handful of protesters who remained at Zuccotti Park today. "The underlying importance of this is such that you have to weather the cold."
For more scenes from the storm, click through the gallery above left. (More
severe weather stories.)
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