Blizzard-Like Conditions Hit New England

People living along the coast could be facing the worst of the blizzard that will push through New England Saturday through Sunday

People living along the coast could be facing the worst of the blizzard that will push through New England Saturday through Sunday -- with high winds, flooding and potential power outages expected.

The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning ahead of the storm on Friday for parts of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Maine. Additionally, coastal flood warnings were issued from Cape Cod to Cumberland, Maine, along with wind chill warnings in every New England state.

Necn meteorologist Tim Kelley says coastal states should expect about 14 inches of snow, but northeastern Maine could accumulate over 20 inches. Meanwhile, Vermont and western Connecticut may see less than six inches.

At a press conference Saturday, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker asked people to be off the roads by midnight and stay home Sunday so crews can treat and clear roads, echoing the same sentiment Sunday morning.

The speed limit on the Massachusetts Turnpike was reduced to 40 MPH from the New York border to Boston, State Police said before 6 p.m. Saturday. The restrictions also prohibit tandems and propane tankers.

The second blizzard of the season comes as parts of New England have already been blanketed in over five feet of snow. In Massachusetts, National Guard troops have been called up to assist with snow removal, and the Hanscom Air Force base outside Boston has become a staging area for heavy equipment coming from neighboring states to help in the effort.

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said two machines capable of melting 135 tons of snow per hour arrived from New York City on Thursday, along with backhoes, dump trucks and front-end loaders from others states. 

"We have close to 600 plows on the street," said Walsh, adding that the snow emergency and parking ban would remain in effect until further notice.

Walsh advised residents to check on neighbors, particularly the elderly, as Sunday night is expected to be dangerously cold.

The massive snowfall has even caused a road configuration in South Boston. The city's transit system, the embattled MBTA, has announced that service will be suspended Sunday.

Massachusetts Gov. Baker said limited flights are expected at Logan International Airport on Sunday, with cancellations and delays likely.

The National Weather Service in Boston confirmed that as of 7 a.m., the 89.7 inches Logan had received at that point ranked third all-time for the airport.

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