Rare October snowstorm hits US Northeast

BOSTON (Reuters) – A rare October snowstorm bore down on the heavily populated US Northeast yesterday, knocking out electricity, delaying flights and threatening some areas with up to a foot (30 cm) of snow.

Snow was coming down from central Pennsylvania to southeastern New York and Connecticut after hitting parts of Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland earlier in the day.

More than 63,000 customers had no power in Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia, the utility Allegheny Power said. Penelec, another utility, said at least 30,000 customers were without power in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Delays were reported at Philadelphia International Airport and at New York area airports. At John F Kennedy International Airport, some arrivals were delayed by more than four hours.

The snow also threatened traffic problems for 100,000 college football fans at a game in State College, Pennsylvania between Penn State and the University of Illinois.

“It’s a strong storm for October,” said AccuWeather.com senior meteorologist Paul Walker. “We don’t usually see storms this deep and this strong.”

While October snow is not unprecedented, this storm — starting as rain and changing to snow as temperatures drop — could set records. For some, the flakes and accumulation caused excitement instead of headaches.

“There’s almost like an electric buzz when the first snow falls,” said Anna Weltz, communication director for Seven Springs Mountain Resort, about 60 miles (100 km) southeast of Pittsburgh.