Heavy, wet snow once again blanketing Northeast

HEAVY, wet snow is once again blanketing the Northeast just days after the biggest storm of the season dumped up to 19 inches of snow on the region.

Winter storm warnings are in effect into Monday from upstate New York to Maine, where blizzard conditions and two feet of snow are possible.

Hartford, Connecticut, could get four to eight inches of snow, the Boston area six to 10, Portsmouth, New Hampshire 12 to 18 and 16 to 24 in Portland, Maine, according to the National Weather Service, which also warned of strong winds and coastal flooding.

"It is a dangerous storm because of high winds, low visibility and heavy snow," said Lenore Correia, a weather service meteorologist in Taunton, Massachusetts. "It's a big snowstorm, but nothing we haven't seen before either."

Schools around the region delayed or canceled classes Monday including in Boston. More than 1,300 flights in the US were scrapped Sunday and more than 6,000 delayed, according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware.com.

In Bedford, Massachusetts, a small plane with five people on board aborted takeoff and slid off a runway on Sunday at Hanscom Field, about 20 miles northwest of Boston. The plane was headed to Teterboro Airport in New Jersey. No one was injured. It was not immediately clear if the weather played a role.

A terminal at Boston's Logan International Airport was briefly evacuated Sunday evening due to high levels of carbon monoxide believed to be caused by a snow-melting machine. Massachusetts State Police said Terminal C was "vented" and returned to normal operations a short time later.

Massachusetts Republican Governor Charlie Baker said the state Department of Transportation has more than 3,100 pieces of equipment and 700 employees treating and plowing roadways. The governor urged residents to avoid driving and instead use public transportation during the storm.

"We are implementing an 11 a.m. delayed start time for all non-emergency state executive branch employees to allow crews additional time to treat and clear roadways for tomorrow's commute as this winter storm continues," Baker said Sunday night.

In northern New England, the storm was welcome news at ski areas, which last year faced some of the lowest snowfall totals in years.

"It's the complete opposite of last year in terms of snow," said Rachael Wilkinson, director of marketing at Shawnee Peak in Bridgton, Maine. "It's night and day and everyone is absolutely thrilled."

The ski area is expected to get 20 to 26 inches of snow by the end of the day Monday.

And in Vermont, the governor declared Monday a "Powder Day," urging winter weather enthusiasts to take advantage of all the snow. Republican Gov. Phil Scott encouraged out-of-state skiers and snowmobilers to stay an extra day or two in Vermont and take advantage of the conditions.

"And while I can't grant official pardons out-of-state, I certainly hope all will be granted a 'snow day' pardon. Visitors can feel free to tell their boss Vermont's Governor asked them to stay," Scott said. (AP)

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