Winter storm churns up U.S. East Coast with deep snow, high winds
CTV
A winter storm lashed the Northeast with deep snow and wind gusts near hurricane force Saturday, causing coastal flooding and threatening widespread power outages while forecasters warned conditions would worsen as the day went on.
The nor'easter thrashed parts of 10 states and some major population centers, including Philadelphia, New York and Boston. By midday, more than 45 centimetres of snow had fallen on parts of New Jersey's shore and eastern Long Island.
Areas closest to the Atlantic coast bore the brunt. Boston, in the nor'easter's crosshairs, could get more than 61 centimetres of snow. Winds gusted at 113 kph or higher at several spots in Massachusetts, including Nantucket Island and Provincetown, at the tip of Cape Cod.
Most flights into and out of the airports serving New York, Boston and Philadelphia were cancelled Saturday, according to FlightAware. More than 4,500 flights were cancelled across the U.S. Amtrak canceled all its high-speed Acela trains between Boston and Washington and cancelled or limited other service.
Across the region, residents hunkered down to avoid whiteout conditions and stinging snow hurled by fierce winds. Business closed or opened late.
