Strong winter storm pushes into US Northeast

BOSTON (AP) — A winter storm thrashed the U.S. Northeast with numbing winds, punishing cold and up to 2 feet (0.6 meters) of snow early Friday, extending Christmas break for some students and presenting a first test for New York's new mayor and perhaps a last one for Boston's outgoing one.

Some schools in New England and New York closed, well ahead of the snow, while cities mobilized plows and salt spreaders, and state offices sent workers home early. Some major highways were ordered shut down overnight. U.S. airlines canceled more than 2,300 flights nationwide on Thursday in advance of the storm.

The heavy weather began rolling in Thursday, just a day after New York Mayor Bill de Blasio was sworn in to lead the nation's largest city and a few days before Boston Mayor Thomas Menino ends 20 years in office.

Menino announced a parking ban and said schools would be closed Friday in Boston, where up to 14 inches (36 centimeters) of snow was originally forecast. Boston's airport said it would not handle any flights after 8:30 p.m. Thursday.

"What a New Year's gift, to receive one last snowstorm as mayor," said Menino, whose successor takes office Monday.

By late Thursday night, the National Weather Service reported that Boxford just north of Boston had received nearly 2 feet (0.6 meters) of snow and parts of upstate New York had already received 18 inches (45.72 centimeters).

De Blasio, who as public advocate in 2010 criticized his predecessor Mayor Michael Bloomberg for his handling of a post-Christmas storm, said hundreds of plows and salt spreaders would be on the streets as soon as the snow started falling Thursday night.

"We have to get it right, no question about it," de Blasio said. "We are focused like a laser on protecting this city and getting everyone ready. We have all hands on deck."

Snow began falling overnight Wednesday in parts of New England and New York state. Forecasters said temperatures would plummet to well below freezing.

The weather service issued a blizzard warning for Cape Cod, coastal areas north and south of Boston and part of Maine as well as New York's Long Island, where up to 10 inches (25 centimeters) of snow could fall and winds could gust to 45 mph (72 kph).

New York City was expecting 8 inches (20 centimeters), while Philadelphia could see up to 7 inches (18 centimeters).

As the storm approached, a worker at a suburban Philadelphia salt storage facility was killed Thursday afternoon when a 100-foot (30-meter) -tall pile of road salt fell and crushed him. Police said the man was trapped while operating a backhoe. There was no immediate word on what may have caused the accident.