Blizzard howls into US East Coast, blocking travel (Second Lead)

WASHINGTON - The first blizzard of the season rammed the northeastern US and continued to leave passengers stranded Monday at train stations, airports and highways just after the Christmas holidays.

New York City was in the eye of the storm, reporting more than 50 cm of snow fall by Monday morning. All flights were cancelled Sunday out of its three main airports and were not expected to restart until Monday afternoon at the earliest.

The story was repeated through much of the Northeast, with some regions reporting as much as 70 cm of snow, putting a wrench in the plans of millions of people trying to make their way home after the holiday weekend.

Tens of thousands were left without power as states of emergency were declared in regions from North Carolina to Massachusetts. Many blizzard warnings were lifted Monday morning.

Airports in Boston and Philadelphia were open Monday, but authorities predicted days before travel would return to normal.

Trains were not much of a better option. Amtrak cancelled trains through Sunday on the New York-Boston corridor and had resumed only “limited” service early Monday morning. Other local train services remained fully cancelled.

Passengers slept on train cars stuck at the platform of New York City’s Pennsylvania Station, with no word from authorities on when service to the city’s northern suburbs might resume.

“They gave up giving out times,” said Robert Scozzari, a Long Island resident who remained stranded at the station Monday morning. “I find it unbelievable that they can’t get the Long Island Rail Road running again.”

Bus services were also put on hold, and many cars were stranded along highways. The Automobile Association of America urged people to stay off the roads. But if they attempt to drive, they should pack water, blankets, boots and charged cell phones, the group said.

“This storm is hitting at an incredibly frustrating time for holiday travelers,” association spokesman Jim Lardear said.

The same weather system had earlier dumped a week of rain and flooding on California from mid-December, then moved through the Midwest and South, where it delivered the first white Christmas in more than 100 years to several areas, including Atlanta, Georgia.

More than 25 cm of snow had fallen on North Carolina, causing traffic chaos among drivers and road departments unaccustomed to snow.