A blizzard-like storm rocked the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern U.S. states, crippling travel across the region and leaving hundreds of thousands of people without power. Five deaths appeared to have been caused by the storm system, which stretched from the Carolinas north to New England and also spread into some Midwestern states. The 16 inches (40 centimeters) of snow that fell at Reagan National Airport outside Washington was the most ever recorded for a single December day, and 16 inches (40 centimeters) had also fallen in Philadelphia, the Associated Press reported. The National Guard used Humvees to rescue stranded motorists in Virginia and some 500 people sought warmth and refuge in emergency shelters. Nearly two feet (60 centimeters) of snow fell in some areas, and the U.S. capital was under a blizzard warning. Public transportation nearly ground to a halt, but it wasn"t enough to keep senators from staying in session to debate health care reform. The slow-moving storm was headed to the northeast. The slow-moving storm was headed to the Northeast, where forecasters said parts of Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachussetts could see more than 16 inches (41 centimeters) by Sunday night. Forecasters expected the storm to drop as many as 10 inches (25 centimeters) on New York City. Snowplows cleared the runway at Andrews Air Force Base in suburban Washington as President Barack Obama returned from climate talks in Copenhagen. The White House said Obama rode in a motorcade back to the White House, instead of taking his helicopter, because of the conditions. Forecasts called for up to 20 inches (50 centimeters) of snow across the region, which was virtually a sea of white.
