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| Heavy Snow and Winds Batter Northeast | |
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| A ferocious storm system pummeled the Northeast on Saturday, burying some parts of region in more than two feet of snow and leaving more than 650,000 homes and businesses without power, mostly in New England. | |
| After a day of pelting wet snow, five states — New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Rhode Island — had declared states of emergency, and Massachusetts had banned vehicles from every road in the state. Major highways like Interstate 93 were almost completely abandoned; downtown Boston, in blizzard conditions, was a ghost town lost in a swirl of howling winds and snow. Dozens of cars that had gotten stuck on the Long Island Expressway Friday night remained there Saturday morning, unable to pass each other and virtually trapped by mounds of plowed snow. | After a day of pelting wet snow, five states — New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Rhode Island — had declared states of emergency, and Massachusetts had banned vehicles from every road in the state. Major highways like Interstate 93 were almost completely abandoned; downtown Boston, in blizzard conditions, was a ghost town lost in a swirl of howling winds and snow. Dozens of cars that had gotten stuck on the Long Island Expressway Friday night remained there Saturday morning, unable to pass each other and virtually trapped by mounds of plowed snow. |
| The storm moved with full force into New England on Saturday, dumping two feet of snow on parts of Connecticut by Saturday morning even as the storm started to leave the New York area. New Haven reported 22 inches while nearby Hamden had 34 inches, the weather service reported. Stony Brook on Long Island had two feet of snow. | |
| Forecasters said the storm would continue to bear down on New England through Saturday afternoon and winds could reach 75 miles an hour, leaving behind a fresh white blanket perhaps three feet thick. | Forecasters said the storm would continue to bear down on New England through Saturday afternoon and winds could reach 75 miles an hour, leaving behind a fresh white blanket perhaps three feet thick. |
| In New York City, where the National Weather Service had reports of up to 8 inches of snow in Central Park, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg told people to stay home and warned them not to “panic buy” gasoline because the supply was plentiful. But the memory of Hurricane Sandy in October was still so raw that many across the region went on buying sprees anyway, emptying store shelves and filling extra containers of gasoline in addition to their car tanks. | In New York City, where the National Weather Service had reports of up to 8 inches of snow in Central Park, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg told people to stay home and warned them not to “panic buy” gasoline because the supply was plentiful. But the memory of Hurricane Sandy in October was still so raw that many across the region went on buying sprees anyway, emptying store shelves and filling extra containers of gasoline in addition to their car tanks. |
| “I don’t think it’s going to be as bad as they’re saying, but I said that with Sandy, too,” said Lavel Samuels, 42, as she filled her tank at a gas station in Far Rockaway, Queens. “I’m filling up based on my experience with Sandy, in case there’s no gas on Sunday or Monday.” | “I don’t think it’s going to be as bad as they’re saying, but I said that with Sandy, too,” said Lavel Samuels, 42, as she filled her tank at a gas station in Far Rockaway, Queens. “I’m filling up based on my experience with Sandy, in case there’s no gas on Sunday or Monday.” |
| But New England was bearing the brunt of the storm as heavy snows caused downed power lines throughout the region. By Saturday, 407,000 power failures were 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. | |
| Marcy Reed, president of National Grid, said failures could last several days because repairs would not begin until the storm ended and would require unearthing power lines buried under mounds of snow. | Marcy Reed, president of National Grid, said failures could last several days because repairs would not begin until the storm ended and would require unearthing power lines buried under mounds of snow. |
| Some, though welcomed the heavy snowfall, particularly skiers who have bemoaned almost two seasons of barren slopes. | Some, though welcomed the heavy snowfall, particularly skiers who have bemoaned almost two seasons of barren slopes. |
| “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.” |
| But in most cities and towns, Friday was largely a day of preparing for the worst. With hurricane-force winds, the National Weather Service expects flooding along the Atlantic Coast that could affect up to eight million people. | But in most cities and towns, Friday was largely a day of preparing for the worst. With hurricane-force winds, the National Weather Service expects flooding along the Atlantic Coast that could affect up to eight million people. |
| In Massachusetts, Gov. Deval Patrick took the unusual step of ordering all vehicles off all roads, not just state roads, by 4 p.m. Friday, well before the brunt of the storm had hit. Violators could face up to a year in prison and a fine, though exceptions were made for emergency workers, members of the news media and anyone with a snowplow. | In Massachusetts, Gov. Deval Patrick took the unusual step of ordering all vehicles off all roads, not just state roads, by 4 p.m. Friday, well before the brunt of the storm had hit. Violators could face up to a year in prison and a fine, though exceptions were made for emergency workers, members of the news media and anyone with a snowplow. |
| “Two or three feet of snow is a profoundly different kind of storm than we have dealt with,” the governor said from the state’s emergency bunker in Framingham. Officials recalled only one previous such traffic ban, in the aftermath of the Blizzard of 1978, when more than 27 inches of snow paralyzed the region, forcing people to abandon their cars in the middle of roadways. | “Two or three feet of snow is a profoundly different kind of storm than we have dealt with,” the governor said from the state’s emergency bunker in Framingham. Officials recalled only one previous such traffic ban, in the aftermath of the Blizzard of 1978, when more than 27 inches of snow paralyzed the region, forcing people to abandon their cars in the middle of roadways. |
| Maine declared a partial emergency, allowing it to suspend federal transportation rules, extend worker hours and bring in extra crews from Canada to assist with storm damage repair. | Maine declared a partial emergency, allowing it to suspend federal transportation rules, extend worker hours and bring in extra crews from Canada to assist with storm damage repair. |
| More than 5,300 flights were grounded Friday and Saturday, snarling the nation’s air transportation system through the weekend. | More than 5,300 flights were grounded Friday and Saturday, snarling the nation’s air transportation system through the weekend. |
| Boston’s transit system, including subway, buses and commuter rail lines, suspended service at 3:30 p.m. Friday, allowing first-shift workers to get home and second-shift workers to get to work. The city inaugurated its SnowOps Viewer, an online portal that allows viewers to see where all snowplows are in real time. | Boston’s transit system, including subway, buses and commuter rail lines, suspended service at 3:30 p.m. Friday, allowing first-shift workers to get home and second-shift workers to get to work. The city inaugurated its SnowOps Viewer, an online portal that allows viewers to see where all snowplows are in real time. |
| In New York City, transit officials increased bus and train service Friday afternoon to help commuters beat the worst of the storm. But New Jersey Transit suspended most of its commuter train and bus service by 8 p.m. Amtrak suspended northbound service out of Pennsylvania Station in New York early Friday afternoon and southbound service out of Boston, with the suspensions continuing into Saturday. Schools throughout New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island were shut or sent students home early. | In New York City, transit officials increased bus and train service Friday afternoon to help commuters beat the worst of the storm. But New Jersey Transit suspended most of its commuter train and bus service by 8 p.m. Amtrak suspended northbound service out of Pennsylvania Station in New York early Friday afternoon and southbound service out of Boston, with the suspensions continuing into Saturday. Schools throughout New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island were shut or sent students home early. |
| New York was battered by a sloshy mix of rain, snow and sleet that slowly changed over to all snow overnight. | New York was battered by a sloshy mix of rain, snow and sleet that slowly changed over to all snow overnight. |
| By Saturday, the total snowfall in New York City was expected to be between 10 and 14 inches. On Long Island, the snow totals will range from 14 to 18 inches, with the highest amounts at the East End. | By Saturday, the total snowfall in New York City was expected to be between 10 and 14 inches. On Long Island, the snow totals will range from 14 to 18 inches, with the highest amounts at the East End. |
| In New London, Conn., forecasters said there would most likely be more than 24 inches of snow and even more in Boston, which could break modern records by topping 28 inches. | In New London, Conn., forecasters said there would most likely be more than 24 inches of snow and even more in Boston, which could break modern records by topping 28 inches. |
| Jerome Hauer, the New York State commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, said that coastal areas of Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island could experience flooding and that residents should be prepared to seek alternative shelter. While the storm surge is expected to be only 3 to 5 feet — well below the 14-foot surge that the hurricane delivered in the fall — he said large waves could bring water inland. | Jerome Hauer, the New York State commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, said that coastal areas of Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island could experience flooding and that residents should be prepared to seek alternative shelter. While the storm surge is expected to be only 3 to 5 feet — well below the 14-foot surge that the hurricane delivered in the fall — he said large waves could bring water inland. |
| “If you see flooding, have plans for somewhere to go,” Mr. Hauer said. | “If you see flooding, have plans for somewhere to go,” Mr. Hauer said. |
| For many in New York and New Jersey, the memory of the gas shortages and prolonged power failures that followed Hurricane Sandy are still vivid, and they were taking no chances. | For many in New York and New Jersey, the memory of the gas shortages and prolonged power failures that followed Hurricane Sandy are still vivid, and they were taking no chances. |
| At Brewer’s Hardware in Mamaroneck, N.Y., Anthony Lividini, the manager, said he was selling far more blizzard and power supplies, including generators, than he had in the past. | At Brewer’s Hardware in Mamaroneck, N.Y., Anthony Lividini, the manager, said he was selling far more blizzard and power supplies, including generators, than he had in the past. |
| “People are getting nervous and coming out early because after Sandy they were unable to get supplies,” he said. | “People are getting nervous and coming out early because after Sandy they were unable to get supplies,” he said. |
| Some stations were already reporting Friday that they had run out of fuel — some as early as noon. | Some stations were already reporting Friday that they had run out of fuel — some as early as noon. |
| At the Shell station on Beach 59th Street in Queens, some drivers also filled red gas cans for generators they bought to get through the post-hurricane power failures. | At the Shell station on Beach 59th Street in Queens, some drivers also filled red gas cans for generators they bought to get through the post-hurricane power failures. |
| At a Shell station in Jericho, N.Y., Andy Harris, the station owner, said that he had sold more than 12,000 gallons of gas in the past 24 hours — more than double his usual sales. | At a Shell station in Jericho, N.Y., Andy Harris, the station owner, said that he had sold more than 12,000 gallons of gas in the past 24 hours — more than double his usual sales. |
Reporting was contributed by Marc Santora, Joseph Berger, Winnie Hu, Nate Schweber, Jess Bidgood, Christine Hauser, Michael Schwirtz and Andy Newman. | Reporting was contributed by Marc Santora, Joseph Berger, Winnie Hu, Nate Schweber, Jess Bidgood, Christine Hauser, Michael Schwirtz and Andy Newman. |