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| Northeast Buried; City Spared the Worst | Northeast Buried; City Spared the Worst |
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| A powerful storm swept fast and furiously across the Northeast on Saturday, dumping mountains of snow, forcing hundreds of motorists to abandon their cars at the height of the blizzard and knocking out power for hundreds of thousands of people. | A powerful storm swept fast and furiously across the Northeast on Saturday, dumping mountains of snow, forcing hundreds of motorists to abandon their cars at the height of the blizzard and knocking out power for hundreds of thousands of people. |
| The storm played out the way many forecasters said it would — with New York City spared the worst, and points to the north and east hit harder. | The storm played out the way many forecasters said it would — with New York City spared the worst, and points to the north and east hit harder. |
| With the storm still raging on Saturday morning, officials in Massachusetts ordered the evacuation of some communities along the coast as waves lashed the shoreline and high tide brought a surge of water inland. | With the storm still raging on Saturday morning, officials in Massachusetts ordered the evacuation of some communities along the coast as waves lashed the shoreline and high tide brought a surge of water inland. |
| Mayor Michael R. Bloombergof New York, at a Saturday morning news conference, offered to help neighboring states. | |
| “They have gotten an enormous amount of snow, and the snow continues to come down,” he said. | “They have gotten an enormous amount of snow, and the snow continues to come down,” he said. |
| Most of the roads in the city, he said, were well on the way to being cleared and he thanked people for staying off the roads during the storm. | Most of the roads in the city, he said, were well on the way to being cleared and he thanked people for staying off the roads during the storm. |
| “I think it is fair to say we were very lucky,” he said. | “I think it is fair to say we were very lucky,” he said. |
| Through the night, winds gusted with hurricane force in some places, downing power lines and creating white-out conditions. More than three feet of snow fell in parts of Connecticut, and more than two feet were reported on Long Island and in Massachusetts. | Through the night, winds gusted with hurricane force in some places, downing power lines and creating white-out conditions. More than three feet of snow fell in parts of Connecticut, and more than two feet were reported on Long Island and in Massachusetts. |
| States of emergency were declared in four states on Friday. The governor of Massachusetts banned travel on all roads as night fell, an order that remained in effect on Saturday. In Connecticut, where the governor had ordered no cars on state highways on Friday night, residents were told early Saturday morning to stay off all roads. | States of emergency were declared in four states on Friday. The governor of Massachusetts banned travel on all roads as night fell, an order that remained in effect on Saturday. In Connecticut, where the governor had ordered no cars on state highways on Friday night, residents were told early Saturday morning to stay off all roads. |
| On Long Island, the storm descended so quickly that hundreds of drivers who were trying to beat the nor’easter home on Friday night were forced to abandon their cars on the highways and streets as roads became impassable. | On Long Island, the storm descended so quickly that hundreds of drivers who were trying to beat the nor’easter home on Friday night were forced to abandon their cars on the highways and streets as roads became impassable. |
| Snowplow drivers worked furiously to clear roads, but the snow limited what they could do. | Snowplow drivers worked furiously to clear roads, but the snow limited what they could do. |
| “It’s really hard right now, it’s wet, it’s heavy and it’s freezing, so everything is going slow,” said Jack Mandaneza, 31, as he took a break from plowing on the Long Island Expressway at the height of the storm. | “It’s really hard right now, it’s wet, it’s heavy and it’s freezing, so everything is going slow,” said Jack Mandaneza, 31, as he took a break from plowing on the Long Island Expressway at the height of the storm. |
| “This has been a record breaking storm,” Gov. Dannel P. Malloyof Connecticut said on Saturday. He said there were cars stranded across his state, too, and that rescuers were working to dig them out. There were several people who needed to be treated for hypothermia after spending hours trapped in their cars, he said. | |
| The storm’s impact was felt by more than 40 million people, from northern New Jersey to Maine. | The storm’s impact was felt by more than 40 million people, from northern New Jersey to Maine. |
| In Massachusetts, state officials said at a briefing on Saturday morning that the most immediate problem was moving people out of homes where they had lost power. National Guard soldiers had been deployed, mainly in the southeastern part of the state, to retrieve people and take them to warming centers and shelters. National Guard troops were assisting with evacuations in part of Salisbury, north of Boston, after a wave crashed into a home there, and in Hull, on the south shore of the state, as well as other south shore towns like Marshfield, Scituate and Weymouth. | In Massachusetts, state officials said at a briefing on Saturday morning that the most immediate problem was moving people out of homes where they had lost power. National Guard soldiers had been deployed, mainly in the southeastern part of the state, to retrieve people and take them to warming centers and shelters. National Guard troops were assisting with evacuations in part of Salisbury, north of Boston, after a wave crashed into a home there, and in Hull, on the south shore of the state, as well as other south shore towns like Marshfield, Scituate and Weymouth. |
| “We had pre-positioned National Guard troops and equipment vehicles, basically along the south coast from the town of Hull, all the way to Cape Cod, the town of Sandwich,” said Peter Judge, of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. | “We had pre-positioned National Guard troops and equipment vehicles, basically along the south coast from the town of Hull, all the way to Cape Cod, the town of Sandwich,” said Peter Judge, of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. |
| But even some members of the Guard were trapped at home; only about 2,000 soldiers of a force of more than 5,000 were able to respond initially. | But even some members of the Guard were trapped at home; only about 2,000 soldiers of a force of more than 5,000 were able to respond initially. |
| As high tide wore on Saturday morning, the National Weather Service posted multiple preliminary reports of flooding. Two feet of water were observed in Winthrop, Mass., just north of Boston. Waters breached a sea wall in the Humarock section of Scituate, while roads in Gloucester, Marblehead, and Revere were reported flooded or impassable. | |
| Saturday morning’s high tide was expected to be more severe than the one that came Friday night, which caused only minor flooding. “Coastal roads were washed over, nothing major, but we’re watching to see if something major occurs with this storm,” said Mr. Judge. | Saturday morning’s high tide was expected to be more severe than the one that came Friday night, which caused only minor flooding. “Coastal roads were washed over, nothing major, but we’re watching to see if something major occurs with this storm,” said Mr. Judge. |
| Kurt Schwartz, director of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, said on Saturday morning that despite the best efforts to clear roads they were “struggling to keep up with the snow.” | Kurt Schwartz, director of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, said on Saturday morning that despite the best efforts to clear roads they were “struggling to keep up with the snow.” |
| Overnight, temperatures across the region dropped precipitously in Boston, and created dangerous conditions for the hundreds of thousands of people without power. | Overnight, temperatures across the region dropped precipitously in Boston, and created dangerous conditions for the hundreds of thousands of people without power. |
| Instead of dissipating overnight, the storm seemed to gain strength in the Boston area, and on Saturday morning winds topping 70 miles per hour still whipped through some towns and cities, creating massive snowdrifts and forcing people to simply sit inside and ride it out. | Instead of dissipating overnight, the storm seemed to gain strength in the Boston area, and on Saturday morning winds topping 70 miles per hour still whipped through some towns and cities, creating massive snowdrifts and forcing people to simply sit inside and ride it out. |
| In Central Park, a total snowfall of 11.4 inches was reported at 6 a.m., and the snowfall had ended by daybreak. | In Central Park, a total snowfall of 11.4 inches was reported at 6 a.m., and the snowfall had ended by daybreak. |
| But in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, as well as on Long Island, residents faced the prospect of a long weekend of digging out. | But in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, as well as on Long Island, residents faced the prospect of a long weekend of digging out. |
| The Weather Service said on Saturday morning that it had reports out of New Haven County, in Connecticut, of more than three feet, including 36.2 inches in Oxford and 38 inches in Milford. In Commack, on Long Island, 29.1 inches of snowfall were reported at 6 a.m. and 27.5 inches at MacArthur Airport in Islip. | The Weather Service said on Saturday morning that it had reports out of New Haven County, in Connecticut, of more than three feet, including 36.2 inches in Oxford and 38 inches in Milford. In Commack, on Long Island, 29.1 inches of snowfall were reported at 6 a.m. and 27.5 inches at MacArthur Airport in Islip. |
| The deep snows and impassable roads will make it hard for utility workers to restore power even as the storm abates. | The deep snows and impassable roads will make it hard for utility workers to restore power even as the storm abates. |
| There were 407,000 power failures reported in Massachusetts, and more than 180,000 were reported in Rhode Island. And the Pilgrim nuclear power plant in Plymouth, Mass., shut down because of the storm. On Long Island, about 10,000 customers were reported without power, the Long Island Power Authority said. | There were 407,000 power failures reported in Massachusetts, and more than 180,000 were reported in Rhode Island. And the Pilgrim nuclear power plant in Plymouth, Mass., shut down because of the storm. On Long Island, about 10,000 customers were reported without power, the Long Island Power Authority said. |
| Logan Airport in Boston was expected to be closed until at least Sunday. The three international airports around New York City were slowly working to resume operations on Saturday, but with more than 5,000 flights canceled since Friday, many travelers could still face challenges. | Logan Airport in Boston was expected to be closed until at least Sunday. The three international airports around New York City were slowly working to resume operations on Saturday, but with more than 5,000 flights canceled since Friday, many travelers could still face challenges. |
| For many, Saturday was a day for fun — an excuse to stay home and play in the powder. In New York City, many people woke up early to snap photos of snow-topped streetlamps and make fresh tracks on their way to find the best hill to go sledding. | For many, Saturday was a day for fun — an excuse to stay home and play in the powder. In New York City, many people woke up early to snap photos of snow-topped streetlamps and make fresh tracks on their way to find the best hill to go sledding. |
| It was also good for some businesses. | It was also good for some businesses. |
| “These aren’t flakes falling from the sky; these are dollar bills,” said Ed Carrier as he sat in a coffee shop in Portsmouth, N.H., and envisioned the boon for winter sports. Staff members at the Thirsty Moose Taphouse nearby said they were determined to stay open through the storm until their regular closing time at 1 a.m. (except in the case of a power failure), and even offered storm-related drink specials: $3 porters and stouts, as long as it was snowing. “It’s just a little bit of snow,” said the hostess, Kim Lovely. “Mother Nature’s just brushing out her dandruff.” | “These aren’t flakes falling from the sky; these are dollar bills,” said Ed Carrier as he sat in a coffee shop in Portsmouth, N.H., and envisioned the boon for winter sports. Staff members at the Thirsty Moose Taphouse nearby said they were determined to stay open through the storm until their regular closing time at 1 a.m. (except in the case of a power failure), and even offered storm-related drink specials: $3 porters and stouts, as long as it was snowing. “It’s just a little bit of snow,” said the hostess, Kim Lovely. “Mother Nature’s just brushing out her dandruff.” |
Nate Schweber, Katharine Q. Seelye and Jess Bidgood contributed reporting. | Nate Schweber, Katharine Q. Seelye and Jess Bidgood contributed reporting. |
| This article has been revised to reflect the following correction: | |
| Correction: February 9, 2013 | |
An earlier version of this article misstated the location of Winthrop, Mass. It is north of Boston, not south. |