Snow, Rain, Hail and Wind Pound East Coast; Man Dies

A spring storm lashed the East Coast Monday, pummeling residents from Maine to Maryland with snow, rain, hail and howling wind and leaving one dead and thousands without power.

More than 18 inches of wet snow fell in New York state, where the death of a 36-year-old man in a Catskill mountain region traffic accident was blamed on the storm.

Further south, in Sussex County, N.J., more than 1 foot of snow blanketed the region and a mix of sleet, rain and snow struck New York City and Long Island as the storm slowly lumbered through the area.

Philadelphia reported 8 inches of snow, and it continued to snow into the night in Wilmington, Del., and Baltimore.

Power outages plagued New England as the National Weather Service recorded winds of 65 mph off the coast of Massachusetts.

Nearly 70 snowplows were sent out to keep the Maine Turnpike clear. “But the only travel we’re recommending is between the kitchen and the living room,” said state safety director Margaret Trueworthy.

New York state police reported dozens of traffic accidents because of the severe weather.

Ten inches of snow blanketed New Jersey’s High Point, which stands only 1,803 feet above sea level.

And as much as 12 to 18 inches of snow was forecast by today along the coast of Maine.

Weather also caused problems in the Pacific Northwest, as thousands of customers had no electricity after a storm whipped high winds through the region, killing two people and overturning small boats.

The wind eased through the day Monday as the storm moved eastward, carrying its strong gusts into northern Nevada.

At one point passenger-only ferry service across Puget Sound between Seattle and Bremerton was halted by winds blowing at up to 92 mph.