A raging snowstorm intensified Sunday as it moved up the East Coast, canceling more than 2,000 flights in and out of the Northeast and affecting airports across the country.
Central Park in New York recorded nearly 23 inches by late morning, and CNN meteorologist Bonnie Schneider said areas farther north could expect amounts approaching that as the day goes on.
The snow total was just short of the record 26.4 inches that fell in December 1947.
"This is a dangerous storm," said New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who urged residents and tourists to stay indoors, according to The Associated Press.
New York's LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy, and Newark-Liberty International were shut down Sunday morning, and airline cancellations meant other airports were seeing limited service.
At Philadelphia International Airport, delays were averaging 2 1/2 hours.
Ronald Reagan Washington National reopened Sunday afternoon with some short delays and a few cancellations.
Blizzard warnings were in effect Sunday for Boston, Massachusetts, until 7 p.m. ET, New York until 4 p.m. ET, and eastern Maine until 3 a.m. ET Monday. Winds had been clocked at up to 40 mph in the area.
Washington is under a snow emergency, with power out to 119,000 customers. About 62,000 Baltimore power customers were without electricity this morning.
On Saturday, the heaviest snowfall struck along the Interstate 95 corridor. By 8 p.m. ET, winds were blowing from the northeast, just south of New York, at about 30 mph, and sweeping in from the east, southeast of Washington, at 25 mph. (Watch as snow begins to accumulate in New Jersey -- 1:00)
Heavy snow fell in Maryland overnight, with 21 inches accumulating in Columbia and more than 11 inches at Baltimore-Washington International Airport.
In Wayne, New Jersey, just outside New York, about 15 inches fell.
The storm was so intense some areas reported lightning.
The manager of a ski resort in Londonberry, Vermont, told Reuters that he welcomed the snow.
"I think this will get people back in the spirit of winter and skiing," Gary Aichholz said.
Airlines cancel flights
Delta, the second-busiest airline in the United States, canceled its Sunday flights at Boston's Logan International Airport, LaGuardia, Newark and T.F. Green International Airport outside Providence, Rhode Island.
The airline also suspended Delta Shuttle operations between New York, Boston and Washington, spokeswoman Gina Laughlin said on Saturday night.
She encouraged customers to change flights and check updated flight information on the company's Web site.
The airline was offering only limited service at JFK and airports in Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Hartford, Connecticut, she said.
At Boston's Logan International Airport, 90 percent of the 1,250 scheduled flights were canceled, said Richard Walsh, a spokesman for Massport.
At LaGuardia, Delta also canceled flights for Delta Song, and American Airlines canceled its Sunday flights. No time was given for resuming service, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said in a recorded message.
At Philadelphia International Airport, spokesman Mark Pesce said 30 percent of its arrivals and departures had been canceled, and several airlines -- Air Jamaica, AirTran, American, Continental, Northwest and Southwest -- planned to offer only limited service.
US Airways spokesman Carlo Bertolini said the airline had canceled at least 40 flights each out of Boston, LaGuardia, Washington and Philadelphia.
"And there are obvious delays," he said. "We suggest those who are traveling to call or check the Web site."
Several smaller regional airports -- Nantucket Memorial in Massachusetts; Atlantic City International and Essex County Airport in New Jersey; Philadelphia North East; and Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport in Martinsburg -- were shut down because of the snow.
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