GEOFF BENNETT: Now to our other major story.

Parts of the Northeast are just beginning to dig out after a powerful storm.

In some cases, it was the worst blizzard in a decade, compounding more trouble onto what's already been a difficult winter.

It was another winter storm for the ages, millions on the East Coast waking up to the most snowfall they have seen in years, more than two feet in some areas.

ELIZABETH AXEL, New York City Resident: This is a once-in-a-lifetime storm.

My dog loves it, and I'm just going to hunker down inside.

GEOFF BENNETT: Cities slammed, suburbs submerged and beaches blanketed in snow.

Blizzard warnings and states of emergency stretched along the Eastern Seaboard from Maryland all the way to Maine.

The wintry mix and near hurricane-level winds began swirling over the area yesterday afternoon.

It intensified overnight and by morning the storm knocked out power for about 500,000 homes and businesses, mostly in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Officials in Providence say the snow was so heavy that they had to order plows off the roads.

BRETT SMILEY (D), Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island: I know it looks like many roads haven't been touched, but that's because of these high winds.

We had to give them a break because the visibility was so low, but they will be back on the roads as soon as the wind dies down a little bit.

Right now, it is just about safety.

GEOFF BENNETT: It's a region that only recently started to thaw from an ice storm earlier this year.

Forecasters say this snow will melt far more quickly.

But for now, daily life is frozen in time.

More than 5,000 flights in and out of the U.S.

were grounded today.

That's on top of 4,000 cancellations from the day before.

Advisories and even bans on non-emergency road travel were issued across the region.

ZOHRAN MAMDANI (D), Mayor of New York City: If you can, remain indoors.

GEOFF BENNETT: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani encouraged residents to hunker down, but some couldn't resist clipping on their cross-country skis and hopping in their sleds.

The city's public schools were closed completely, unlike the last storm, where students had to log on for remote learning.

ZOHRAN MAMDANI: I hope our students enjoy their snow day today and stay warm and safe throughout, but I do have some tough news to share.

School will be in person tomorrow.

You can still pelt me with snowballs when you see me.

GEOFF BENNETT: A brief blast of snow forcing the Northeast to trudge through this unusually stormy winter.