Snow covers Northeast, more on way

ALBANY, N.Y. – A powerful winter storm dumped a foot or more of snow in the Northeast on Wednesday, knocking out power to thousands and stalling air traffic from Boston to Philadelphia.

The storm cut a swath from eastern Pennsylvania into northern New England, slamming typically snowy regions that had been spared the paralyzing storms that hit cities farther south earlier this winter. About 150,000 customers lost power Wednesday, hundreds of schools were closed and at least three traffic deaths were blamed on the storm.

The system was the first of a 1-2 winter punch. The National Weather Service said the storm forecast to hit today is expected to be “significant and long-lasting,” dumping a foot or more of snow on some areas by Friday.