Heavy snow invades Northeast

Another snowy day is expected in the Northeast on Friday, while rain is anticipated in the Pacific Northwest.

A low-pressure system hovering over the Northeast is forecast to continue pulling moisture onshore from the Atlantic Ocean and cool air from Canada, creating snow across the region. Between 1 and 3 inches is expected in most areas, while the extreme Northeast could see between 3 and 5 inches.

In high elevations of the Appalachians, blizzard conditions with wind gusts of 30 mph are expected, along with 5 to 7 inches of new snow. High temperatures are expected to remain in the lower 30s in most of the region.

A windy winter storm has knocked out power to at least 700,000 homes and businesses in the Northeast, fanned a hotel fire in coastal New Hampshire, and disrupted travel.

In New Hampshire, even the state Emergency Operations Center was operating on a generator. A wind gust of more than 90 mph was reported in the state.

Rain and flooding are the big problems in northern New England. Farther south, snow is clogging roads and airport runways. Thousands of flights have been canceled.

New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg has decided to give the nation’s largest public school district a rare snow day after 17 inches fell there.

Parts of western Maine received nearly a foot a snow, while Philadelphia received a dusting. About 9 inches of snow fell in New York City, where a man was killed by a falling snow-laden tree branch in Central Park–one of at least three deaths being blamed on the storm.

In parts of southern and mid-coastal Maine more than 3 inches of rain had fallen and forecasters say some areas could get more than 7 inches. The Presumpscot River in Westbrook was expected to crest at 9 feet over flood stage by Friday afternoon. The river in the flood-prone New Hampshire town of Goffstown was nearing flood stage and residents were told to prepare for possible evacuation.

Hundreds of flights were canceled at major East Coast airports.

The latest blast of winter was expected to linger more than 24 hours, meaning more headaches Friday. More snow is predicted for much of the region Saturday, too.

The National Weather Service put much of the East Coast under wind advisories and warnings until 7 a.m. Friday. The agency warned that winds could blow steadily between 20 and 30 mph in some areas, with gusts of 55 mph or higher in coastal and mountainous areas.