A rare October snowstorm blasted across the heavily populated U.S. Northeast on Saturday, knocking out power to about 2.5 million customers, delaying airline flights and threatening some areas with up to a foot of snow.

Three storm-related deaths were reported. One occurred in Springfield, Mass., where a 20-year-old motorist got out of a car and touched a guardrail electrified by a downed power line, WWLP.com reported. Police Capt. William Collins said the man stopped when he saw police and firefighters examining downed wires and stepped in the wrong place.

In southeastern Pennsylvania, a snow-laden tree fell on a home, killing an 84-year-old man who was napping in his recliner. In Colchester, Conn., there was a traffic-related death, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said.

By 2 p.m. EDT, New York City had broken an October snow record with 1.3 inches in Central Park, making this the snowiest October there since records began being kept in 1869, NBC New York reported.

In a tweet, New York City officials said

that all city parks were closed, citing the risk of falling trees.
Story: Snow cancels NY, Philly flights, makes road travel treacherous
Snow came down hard from central Pennsylvania to southeastern New York and southern New England after hitting parts of Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland earlier in the day. Newark, N.J., reported 3.8 inches by 6:06 p.m. EDT, and Harrisburg, Pa., had 5 inches.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45086542/ns/weather/

yep. Lost mine at 11pm last night. Came back on at 6:30