Storm slams the Northeast

Blizzard slams New England for second time in a week

Heavy snow fell Monday across the Northeast, closing schools and government offices, snarling roads and cancelling flights with a forecast for 8 to 16 inches expected from New York to Maine.

By morning, some towns in Upstate New York already had a foot of snow on the ground.

The storm, called a nor'easter, will bring blizzard conditions across Maine with strong winds, which the weather service warned could bring heavy snow and reduced visibility.

Travel could be dangerous during the height of the storm as road crews have difficulty clearing roads, according to AccuWeather. com. Blizzard warnings are in effect for eastern Maine, according to the weather service.

Maine closed its state offices on Monday. New Hampshire shut its statehouse and court system. And Boston closed its public schools.

State officials in Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire urged motorists to stay off the roads. Crashes were reported from Sunday through early Monday.

“We just want to remind people to be smart and be safe,” New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu said.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said the state has more than 3,100 pieces of equipment and 700 employees treating and plowing roadways.

“The storm has the potential to bring 1 to 2 feet of snow to parts of central and northern New England, and parts of the maritime provinces of Canada,” said Alex Sosnowski, senior meteorologist at AccuWeather.

The previous storm canceled more than 4,300 flights in the Northeast from Wednesday through Friday. On Monday, a total of 670 flights within, arriving or departing the U. S. were cancelled, according to FlightAware. com, an online tracking service.

AP

STEVEN SENNE, AP A pedestrian crosses the street during a snowstorm Sunday in Waltham, Mass. Boston public schools were closed Monday.