BOSTON -- Thousands of hardy souls across New England spent Sunday digging out after a major weekend storm dumped more than 2 feet of snow in some areas, caused multiple road accidents, downed power lines and left hundreds of thousands across the Northeast in the dark, some perhaps for days.
Heavy snowfall from the storm stretched across the region, including upstate and northern New York through Vermont, New Hampshire, and most of Maine. Many areas saw totals of 8 inches to 12 inches of snow, and some of the highest totals exceeded 30 inches in south-central Vermont, said Zack Taylor, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service.
"So overall, it was a pretty significant winter storm and for some areas that was some of the most snow they've seen all winter with a single storm," Taylor said.
The combination of sleet, freezing rain and heavy wet snow took down trees and power lines and was blamed for hundreds of delayed and canceled flights.
In New York City, floodwaters snarled subway service, closed part of the Cross Island Parkway and trapped motorists on flooded roads through Central Park, where more than 3.5 inches of rain fell. On Fifth Avenue, a giant tree fell down over several cars, prompting a road closure.
In Lodi, N.J., flooding from the Saddle River inundated nearby roads.
Central Maine Power, the state's largest utility, said crews began clearing damage and fixing downed lines Sunday -- but that it anticipated a multiday effort in areas hit hardest by the storm. By late Sunday, about 170,000 customers were without power in Maine.
"Damage to trees, poles and wires was significant overnight on Saturday, and our assessors are taking stock of the damage today so we can begin restoring power to our customers as quickly and as safely as possible," said Jon Breed, from Central Maine Power.
Another 54,000 customers were without power in New Hampshire. In New York, more than 57,000 customers were without power late Sunday, down from more than 90,000 earlier in the day.
Areas north of New York City were among the hardest hit, according to online maps from National Grid and PowerOutage.us, a power outage tracking website.
The combination of sleet, freezing rain, and heavy wet snow that took down trees and power lines was also blamed for hundreds of delayed and canceled flights at area airports.
Police across the Northeast reported hundreds of traffic accidents as cars spun out and drivers grappled with icy roads, while Washington, D.C.; Baltimore; Philadelphia; and Boston also saw heavy rain and flooding,
In Portland, Maine, city officials opened a warming center at the East End Community School for residents without power who needed a warm place to visit, charge electronics or sleep overnight from Sunday evening to this morning.
The New Hampshire Department of Safety announced Sunday it had activated an emergency operations center to help local communities clean up from the storm, including those with significant power outages.
Fans of cold weather -- including skiers -- reveled in the snow.
Kevin Bell, vice president of marketing for Loon Mountain in New Hampshire's White Mountains, said the more snow New England gets, the better it is for ski resorts operating in the late season.
Taylor said another significant winter storm is developing in the West and will continue through today across much of the Rockies, the Plains and the upper Midwest. The National Weather Service warned of heavy snow and blizzard conditions for the northern Plains and Upper Midwest persisting to Tuesday.
That system is expected to bring heavy snowfall across portions of Wisconsin, Minnesota, much of the Dakotas and even down into Nebraska and western Kansas with the potential of 8 to 12 inches of snow, with higher amounts across the eastern Dakotas and portions of central Minnesota, Taylor said.
A winter weather advisory also was issued through Sunday night for parts of northern Arizona, the Grand Canyon and Flagstaff to the New Mexico border, with up to a half-foot of snow possible at upper elevations and winds gusting to 40 mph.
The weather service said snow showers were expected through Sunday night at elevations around 5,000 to 6,000 feet.
Unsettled weather, with additional rain and snow showers, was forecast for the Flagstaff, Ariz., area today and Tuesday, with another storm system potentially moving into northern Arizona next weekend.
Information for this article was contributed by Phil Marcelo, Julie Walker and Walter Berry of The Associated Press.
A snowplow removes the snow on Maple Street in Brattleboro, Vt., while the snow falls on Saturday, March 23, 2024. New England is battling a mix of wind, rain, sleet and heavy snow across the region Saturday with more than a foot of snow expected in ski county, but mostly rain, wind and possible flooding in southern areas and along the coast. (Kristopher Radder /The Brattleboro Reformer via AP)
A man walks his dog down Main Street in Brattleboro, Vt., on Saturday, March 23, 2024. New England is battling a mix of wind, rain, sleet and heavy snow across the region Saturday with more than a foot of snow expected in ski county, but mostly rain, wind and possible flooding in southern areas and along the coast. (Kristopher Radder /The Brattleboro Reformer via AP)
Mikey Reynolds, an employee at The Works on Main Street in Brattleboro, Vt., shovels the sidewalk in front of the restaurant as a person who is facing homelessness sleeps in a door entryway while seeking refuge from the snow storm on Saturday, March 23, 2024. New England is battling a mix of wind, rain, sleet and heavy snow across the region Saturday with more than a foot of snow expected in ski county, but mostly rain, wind and possible flooding in southern areas and along the coast. (Kristopher Radder /The Brattleboro Reformer via AP)
Penny Manly, of Glenville, N.Y., runs down Western Avenue in Brattleboro, Vt., while the snow falls on Saturday, March 23, 2024. New England is battling a mix of wind, rain, sleet and heavy snow across the region Saturday with more than a foot of snow expected in ski county, but mostly rain, wind and possible flooding in southern areas and along the coast. (Kristopher Radder /The Brattleboro Reformer via AP)