Blizzard strikes East Coast, shuts down NYC travel

A massive winter storm hit hard the East Coast on Saturday, dumping more than three feet of snow in parts of West Virginia and Maryland, tying up traffic on highways, grounding thousands of flights and shutting down travel in the nation's largest city.

From the Carolinas to New York, tens of thousands were without power Saturday night as a result of the storm, which was finally heading out to the Atlantic.

Except for some isolated flurries, snowfall in most of the major cities will likely finish early Sunday morning, CNN Meteorologist Sean Morris said.

Though the blizzard set no snowfall records in New York or Washington, you wouldn't know it from walking through the steady evening snow or waist-high snow banks.

New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport received 27.7 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service, and Newark Liberty International Airport received more than 25 inches.

New York's Central Park recorded 25.1 inches of snow by 7 p.m. Saturday, ranking as the third-largest snowfall since records began in 1869.

Mayor Bill de Blasio warned that the total was bound to go higher as snow continued to fall.

"We have to prepare for an even worst-case scenario," he said, "and be ready if it goes even farther."

A travel ban was in effect on all roads in New York City and Long Island on Saturday. City bus service and above-ground subway lines were halted, along with area rail services such as the Long Island Rail Road.

All Broadway performances were canceled due to the blizzard, according to the Broadway League.

The wind-driven snow at times appeared to descend sideways, making it difficult to see.

Officials said the ban would be lifted on Sunday, but they urged people not to travel unless necessary.

"Our plows will still be clearing the streets, and we must keep the streets passable for emergency vehicles," the mayor said. "Whenever possible, New Yorkers should stay indoors until this storm passes."