Wind, heavy snow, gusty winds blanket the U.S.
BOSTON >> It may officially be spring, but wintry weather blanketed the U.S. on Saturday with New England and California seeing a mix of rain, heavy snow and gusty winds.
In the West, a winter storm warning was in effect through Sunday morning for parts of the Sierra Nevada, and a 91 mph wind gust was recorded at Mammoth Mountain near the California-Nevada line. About a foot of snow had fallen by Saturday morning north of Lake Tahoe.
A winter weather advisory 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.
In Maine, the National Weather Service warned of a treacherous travel day with an increase in ice forming inland from the coast, on top of snow or sleet that had already fallen.
Across Connecticut, New York City, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, the storm was expected to remain largely a rain event.
“Overnight dry weather will give way to sunshine,” said Frank Nocera, lead forecaster for the National Weather Service in Norton, Massachusetts.
Despite the sun, today was expected to be blustery with temperatures chillier than average for late March, he said.
Flood watch in NYC
In New York City, a flood watch and wind advisory were in place until 2 a.m. today.
Flooding impacted subway service, shutting down a section of the Staten Island Railway in both directions. Flooding also closed part of the Cross Island Parkway in Queens, and police warned motorists about standing water on roadways throughout the city.
Fans of skiing welcomed the snowfall.
At Loon Mountain in New Hampshire's White
Mountains, skiers were looking forward to the 12 to 20 inches of new snow the storm was expected to drop on top of a foot that already earlier last week.
“The storm is great. It's brought a lot of skiers out to the mountain today,” said Kevin Bell, vice president of marketing for the resort. “This could be the biggest snow we'll see all year. It sets us up for a really good spring.
“The more snow New England gets, the better for us.”
The storm should be completely out of the New England region by this morning. It comes at the end of a winter season in some areas of the Northeast, including Boston, that saw little snow and warmer temperatures.
In South Florida, severe thunderstorms Friday night delayed departures at the Miami International Airport during the busy spring break season, suspended a popular electronic music festival and disrupted matches at a high-profile tennis tournament.
TORONTO >> Politicians, dignitaries and celebrities joined members of the public Saturday at a state funeral to honor Brian Mulroney, one of Canada's most consequential prime ministers who in the 1980s solidified trade ties with the U.S. and spoke out against South Africa's apartheid.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and hockey great Wayne Gretzky were among the attendees at Montreal's Notre-Dame Basilica. Mulroney, who died Feb. 29 at age 84, was prime minister for nine years from 1984 to 1993 and led the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada.
“He shaped our history. He got the big things right,” Trudeau said to reporters outside the church before going in. “He had a huge impact.”
Mulroney's legacy includes the North American Free Trade Agreement, signed among Canada, the United States and Mexico during his time as prime minister, his participation in the fight against South African apartheid, the 1991 acid rain accord with the U.S. and the introduction of an unpopular sales tax that represents a significant amount of government revenue.
Trudeau, Gretzky and others delivered eulogies.
Former U.S. Secretary State James Baker was scheduled to delivery an eulogy, but couldn't attend because of recent back surgery. Tim McBride, a former senior White House official who worked with Baker during George. H. W. Bush's presidency, delivered Baker's remarks in his place.