Snowstorm 2011: Rare October Storm Forces Hundreds of School Closings
Power Outages From East Coast Storm Affect Nearly 3 Million; Grounds, Delays Flights
Possibly hundreds of schools will remain closed Monday in the Northeast while nearly three million households remain without electricity, after a heavy weekend snowstorm. Transit lines have also been damaged, making traveling difficult and nearly impossible for some.
Some 30 inches of heavy, wet snow fell over the weekend on the Northeastern United States, breaking trees, damaging power lines and ruining many people's Halloween plans.
West Milford, N.J. and Millbrook, N.Y., had the most snow with 19 inches and 21 inches on Saturday, respectively, according to NBC New York. New York City got far less snow, but it was still the biggest amount ever noted in the city for the month of October - 2.9 inches in Central Park. The Bronx had six inches and Brooklyn two inches of snow, the news station reported.
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Children across the region stretching from Maine to Maryland - where emergency shelters opened - are reportedly having the earliest "no school" snow day remembered.
The unusually early snowstorm struck Saturday and carried into early Sunday. At least five people died, according to CNN, and some 2.7 million customers were left without power.
Thousands of travelers were caught stranded at airports and train stations.
As CP reported over the weekend, more than 665,000 people were without power in New Jersey, over 520,000 in Connecticut, about 560,000 in Pennsylvania, more than 260,000 in New York, at least 200,000 in Massachusetts, and 26,000 in western Maryland.
The snowy weather, unusual for the month of October, also caused delays for flights and trains throughout the region. Newark International Airport in New Jersey, New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport were among those that reported hours of delays. Many domestic flights were canceled. Some Amtrak and commuter trains were also delayed or suspended because of felled trees and signal problems.
