Snow storm wreaks havoc across US
Police in New York's Suffolk County, some using snowmobiles, rescued hundreds of motorists stuck overnight on the Long Island Expressway, said police spokesman Rich Glanzer.
Emergency medical services personnel in Worcester, Massachusetts, delivered a baby girl at her mother's home at about 3am yesterday with the aid of National Guard soldiers.
Even as the big storm's force was slackening, the National Weather Service warned of blizzard conditions developing in the Great Plains yesterday and continuing into tomorrow.
Snow and, in some areas, blizzard conditions were expected across parts of Colorado, Nebraska, North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota and Wyoming, it said. A foot or more of snow is expected in some areas.
Utility companies reported about 700,000 customers without electricity across nine states as the wet, heavy snow brought down tree branches and power lines.
The Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant in Plymouth, Massachusetts, lost power and shut down automatically late on Friday, but there was no threat to the public, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission said.
In Boston, a National Hockey League game scheduled for Saturday between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins was canceled because of the blizzard.
As the storm tapered off, streets in Cambridge, Massachusetts, were largely quiet except for snowblowers and shoveling. Kevin Tierney (41) struggled with a snowblower to carve out a parking space in more than 60cm of snow.
"I had this all planned out, and I don't know who said it, but everybody goes into a boxing match with a plan until they get punched in the mouth," said Mr Tierney, an attorney.
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York and Maine declared states of emergency before the storm. The US Postal Service suspended mail delivery in parts of those five states plus New Hampshire and Vermont.
Although New York was hit by 30cm of snow, Fashion Week went on unfazed as crowds arrived to watch the morning's shows by Ruffian and LaCoste.
Andrea Daney, a digital marketing senior manager for LaCoste, said she was trying to be discreet as she changed from snow boots to high-heeled crushed blue velvet ankle boots.
"I'm calling it the shoe storm of the century," she said. "You have to make adjustments to your outfit." The snow delighted New England's ski industry after a dry winter that has left green grass visible across much of the region.
Greg Kwasnick, a spokesman for Loon Mountain in Lincoln, New Hampshire, said business was slightly slower than normal yesterday but likely would pick up in coming days as roads cleared. "Snow is what it's all about," he said.
Reuters
