Awesome New England Blizzard

Via Twitter @radiomelissa - Taunton, Mass this morning.

High tide in Hampton Beach this morning with the surf lapping against the boardwalk in the midst of a raging blizzard.

I like this entry from the National Weather Service office in Gray, Maine this morning:  INTENSE MESOSCALE BANDING HAS SET UP ALONG THE COASTAL PLAIN EARLY THIS MORNING ALONG WITH INCREASING WINDS. CONDITIONS AT THE OFFICE HERE IN GRAY MAINE HAVE BEEN NEARLY UNPRECEDENTED. SNOWFALL RATES HAVE BEEN 2-4 INCHES PER HOUR WITH GUSTS 40-50 MPH. NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS IS A DANGEROUS AND HISTORIC BLIZZARD. TRAVEL EARLY THIS MORNING WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT AT BEST AND IMPOSSIBLE AT TIMES. TOTALS WILL BE 1-3 FEET FOR MOST OF THE AREA WITH SIGNIFICANT DRIFTING. TRAVEL IS HIGHLY DISCOURAGED THIS MORNING. 

From Toronto across extreme southwest Quebec and into New England those two powerful winter storms have left their mark. Yesterday heavy snow fell in Ontario, up to 40cm around the GTA with 25cm in downtown Toronto, 25cm at Ottawa and 20cm at Kemptville. The wind and snow caused several major accidents from Montreal to Toronto with three fatalities reported, 1 in Quebec and two in eastern Ontario on the 401. In Montreal dry air entered the system from the east as the energy transferred from the Great Lakes low to the coastal storm. As this happened precipitation abruptly shut off in the region with 20cm (8 inches) measured here on L'Ile Perrot.

Such was not the case across southern New England where heavy snow, thunder and lightning and hurricane force winds created a massive weather emergency last night. Highways were closed across a four state region with a travel ban is in place as a result of snow totals in some cases up to 30 inches. Portland, Maine set a record for the largest one day storm ever at  just over 29 inches. Wind gusts were reported between 70 and 90 mph across southeast Massachusetts and the Cape. Nearly 600,000 homes are without power across Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine and parts of Long Island. The storm is also producing a dangerous surge at high tide this morning, flooding portions of the coast from southeast Massachusetts into New Hampshire and southern Maine.

A plow on its side in Massachusetts last night. (WBZ - Boston)

The storm is now pounding Nova Scotia, PEI and extreme southern New Brunswick with a high storm surge and between 30- 60cm of wind driven snow. The snow is over for Montreal, it will be breezy and cold today with some drifting snow. Winds will abate tonight and it will be cold down to -18C (0F).