Major winter storm wallops U.S. Northeast

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – The second major snow storm of  the winter blanketed the U.S. Northeast and canceled thousands  of flights today, battering parts of New England with  blizzard conditions and up to 30 inches (76 cm) of snow.
The National Weather Service reported snow on the ground in  49 of the 50 states — only Florida was spared — and much of  the South was still battling icy conditions that forced Atlanta  schools and government to close for the third day in a row.
New York City’s Central Park received 9 inches (23 cm) of  snow, less than half the amount that fell in a post-Christmas  blizzard that paralyzed the city and dented the popularity of  Mayor Michael Bloomberg because of a substandard cleanup.
Financial markets operated normally, though the snow could  affect upcoming employment data, possibly reducing U.S.  payrolls by 50,000 because it hit during the survey week for  the January employment report, UBS Investment Research said.
“To arrive at that estimate, we looked at blizzards in the  past and at the consequent deviations from trend in monthly  payroll growth,” UBS said in a note to clients.
Thunder and lightning struck Boston and the New England  states. Between 12 and 14 inches (30 to 35 cm)  of snow fell in  the Boston area.
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick declared a state of  emergency after snow surpassed initial forecasts, saying  snowfall could reach 30 inches  (76 cm) in the western part of  the state. Springfield officials called it the heaviest  snowfall since the blizzard of 1978.
“A snow storm will continue to bury New England today with  fierce blizzard conditions towards the coast, creating  nightmares for travelers and residents,” Accuweather senior  meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski said.
Snowfall of more than an inch (2.5 cm) per hour makes it  difficult for plows to keep pace, and 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.5  cm) per hour were seen in western Massachusetts, Connecticut,  southern New Hampshire and Vermont, the National Weather  Service said in a winter storm warning that was in effect until  8 p.m./ 0100 GMT
New York’s Bloomberg declared a weather emergency late yesterday, but after observing overnight snowfalls, city  officials determined that students could get to class and  schools remained open. Cancellation of school for a “snow day”  is a benchmark indicating the severity of a storm.
“Bloomberg really irked me last time with how long it took  to get the snow cleaned up,” said Jerry Lekovic, 46, outside a  Manhattan coffee shop. “But I got to give it to him;, it seems  like he’s got his act together now and he deserves recognition  for that.”
The previous storm — the sixth largest in city history —  overwhelmed the city by dumping 20 inches (50 cm) over 17 hours  on Dec. 26 and 27.
“As soon as I woke up this morning, my entire neighborhood  was plowed,” said Sherry McManus, 31. “During the last snow  storm, it took a good two to three days before I could even get  my car out.”
Airlines canceled 1,700 flights at the New York area’s  three major airports alone. Delta said it canceled 18 percent  of its flights nationwide.
In Philadelphia, about 6 inches (15 cm) of snow fell,  enough to close schools and strand 120 passengers at  Philadelphia International Airport overnight. They were given  blankets, pillows, snacks and water, airport spokeswoman  Victoria Lupica said.
Icy roads worsened by a sharp dip in overnight temperatures  created havoc across Deep South states today after  record snowfall was recorded in parts of the region.