BOSTON/NEW YORK, (Reuters) – A powerful blizzard struck Boston and surrounding New England yesterday, leaving some 4.5 million people grappling with as much as three feet of snow and coastal flooding but sparing New York City residents who had braced for a significant blast.
Snow was forecast to keep falling into early today in eastern New England, possibly setting a record snowfall in Boston. At Logan International Airport, 23.3 inches (59.2 cm) of snow was on the ground early evening, swept higher in parts by strong winds.
“There are drifts now of four, five and six feet in some places,” Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker said. “This is clearly a very big storm for most of Massachusetts.”
A statewide travel ban was scheduled to be lifted at midnight but Massachusetts residents were urged to stay off the roads if possible.
Boston-area trains, buses and subways were set to resume normal service on Wednesday but delays were predicted for the morning commute.
The resort island of Nantucket was particularly hard-hit by power outages, and most homes and businesses had no electricity, the governor said.
Icy flooding closed the island’s downtown waterfront, white-out conditions forced some roads to be shut down and ferry and plane service was cancelled, according to local reports.
Storm-driven coastal flooding added to the state’s woes, as low-lying towns south of Boston grappled with rising water.
