Children make a snow pile in Times Square, during a snowstorm.
A winter storm slammed into the U.S. Northeast with howling winds and frigid cold, dumping nearly 2 feet (60 centimeters) of snow in some parts and whipping up blizzard-like conditions on Friday.
Governors in New York and New Jersey declared states of emergency, urging residents to stay at home. Hundreds of schools were shut down in Boston and New York, extending the Christmas break for tens of thousands of students.
Travel woes spread across the region. U.S. airlines canceled more than 2,300 flights nationwide ahead of the storm and hundreds more flights were expected to cancelled or delayed Friday, especially at New York and Boston airports.
"It's been a tough road," said traveler Heather Krochuk, of Toronto, Canada, inside a Boston hotel Thursday night after her flight was cancelled. "(But) we have a place to sleep that isn't the airport."
Some major highways in New York state were shut down overnight and Metro-North trains around New York City were operating on a reduced schedule.
The National Weather Service said 21 inches (53 centimeters) of snow had fallen in Boxford, just north of Boston, by Thursday night, while other parts of Massachusetts had 18 inches (46 centimeters). Upstate New York around Rochester had 18 inches of snow while New York City was expected to get about 8 inches (20 centimeters).
"This is nothing to be trifled with," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. "People should seriously consider staying in their homes."
"It's a two-story storm," explained meteorologist Joseph Pollina. "The snow and the cold."
Forecasters said temperatures were plummeting to well below freezing and wind chill readings could hit minus 10 Fahrenheit (minus 23 Celsius). Pollina said a high of 15 Fahrenheit (-9.5 Celsius) was expected Friday in New York City.
"We're going to see a lot of snow and a lot of wind," said forecaster Jason Tuell. "We're concerned about whiteout conditions possibly tonight with the blowing and drifting snow."
Outreach teams were searching New York City streets for homeless people at risk of freezing to death.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie ordered nonessential state workers to stay home Friday. State offices and courthouses were closed, as well as many local city offices. State offices were also closed in Massachusetts.
The weather service issued a blizzard warning for Cape Cod, coastal areas north and south of Boston and part of Maine as well as New York's Long Island, where up to 10 inches (25 centimeters) of snow could fall and winds could gust to 45 mph (72 kph).
The heavy weather began rolling in Thursday, just a day after New York Mayor Bill de Blasio was sworn in to lead the nation's largest city and a few days before Boston Mayor Thomas Menino ends 20 years in office.
De Blasio, who in 2010 criticized predecessor Mayor Michael Bloomberg for his handling of a post-Christmas storm, said 1,700 snowplows and 450 salt spreaders were hitting the streets in New York City.
"We have to get it right, no question about it," de Blasio said. "We are focused like a laser on protecting this city."
The Long Island Rail Road's alcohol-spraying train, which fights freezing on switches, was loaded up, and the subway system's outdoor platforms were salted. Chains were placed on city buses so they would not get stuck in drifts.
Menino announced a parking ban and closed the city's schools Friday. Boston airport shut down Thursday night.
"What a New Year's gift, to receive one last snowstorm as mayor," said Menino.
A worker at a suburban Philadelphia salt storage facility was killed Thursday when a 100-foot (30-meter) -tall pile of road salt fell and crushed him. Police said the man was trapped while operating a backhoe. There was no immediate word on what may have caused the accident.