WASHINGTON - A snowstorm with a ferocity more familiar in February than October socked the US Northeast over the weekend, knocking out power to 2.7 million, snarling air and highway travel and dumping more than 2 feet (60 centimeters) of snow in a few spots. Officials warned it could be days before many see electricity restored. The combination of heavy, wet snow, leaf-laden trees and frigid, gusting winds brought down limbs and power lines. At least three deaths were blamed on the weather, and states of emergency were declared in New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and parts of New York. The 750,000 who lost power in Connecticut broke a record for the state that was set when the remnants of Hurricane Irene hit the state in August. People could be without electricity for as long as a week, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said Sunday. The storm worsened as it moved north, and communities in western Massachusetts were among the hardest hit. Snowfall totals topped 27 inches (68.6 centimeters) in Plainfield, and nearby Windsor had gotten 26 inches (66 centimeters) by early Sunday. Along the coast and in such cities as Boston, relatively warm water temperatures helped keep snowfall totals much lower. Washington received a trace of snow, tying a 1925 record for the date. New York City's Central Park set a record for both the date and the month of October with 1.3 inches (3.3 centimeters) of snow. Some inland towns got more than a foot (30 centimeters) of snow. West Milford, New Jersey, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) northwest of New York City, saw 19 inches (48 centimeters) by early Sunday. New Jersey's largest electric and gas utility, PSE&G, warned customers to prepare for ‘potentially lengthy outages' and advised power might not be fully restored until Wednesday. More than 600,000 lost electricity in the state, including Gov. Chris Christie. More than 22 inches (56 centimeters) fell in New Hampshire's capital of Concord, weeks ahead of the usual first measurable snowfall. The unofficial arrival of winter was a boon for some. Two Vermont ski resorts, Killington and Mount Snow, started the ski season early by opening one trail each over the weekend, and Maine's Sunday River ski resort also opened for the weekend. The severity of the storm caught many by surprise.
