Cleanup starts, but storm still holds grip

BOSTON >> The scrape of snow shovels and the drone of snowblowers filled the New England air on Wednesday as the region cleaned up from a storm that left 2 feet of snow in some places and tens of thousands without power.

More than 150,000 customers in Massachusetts and another 20,000 in Maine were still without electricity midday Wednesday, a day after the storm. Utilities warned that it could be several days before everyone is back online as line crews are hampered by streets blocked by downed trees.

Schools in the region remained closed as several warming centers opened.

Uxbridge, Massachusetts, led in snow levels with nearly 28 inches. Foster, Rhode Island, got more than 25 inches. In Connecticut, Killingly had just over 20 inches. Raymond, New Hampshire, got 27 inches. Limerick and Newfield, Maine, had 23.5 inches each.

Highwinds and blowing snow led meteorologists to categorize the storm as a blizzard in parts of New England, including Boston. Gusts approached 70 mph on Cape Cod, the weather service said.

Amtrak resumed some service Wednesday between Boston and New York City, although delays lingered. Boston’s Logan International Airport resumed flights Wednesday.

The winter weather was far from over. Some flurries were expected in New England on Wednesday, and meteorologists started tracking another possible storm for the middle of next week.

New York was in line for a harder hit Wednesday. Forecasters said central New York could get up to 12 inches of snow with winds gusting up to 40mph. Parts of western New York could get up to 6 inches of snow.