The Latest on the nor’easter as it hits northern New England (all times local):
4:45 p.m.
About 40,000 customers are without power in New Hampshire and 15,000 in Maine, with many of them near the coast, where there are blizzard conditions.
The nor’easter produced strong wind gusts, in addition to snowfall. Many of those without electricity as of late Tuesday afternoon are in Hampton and Seabrook, New Hampshire, and in York County, Maine.
Wind gusts were reported at up to 50 mph, with one recorded at 58 mph in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Snow was still falling northern New England. By late Tuesday afternoon in New Hampshire, Merrimack received 12 inches and Concord got 10 inches. In Maine, Portland got nearly 8 inches and Auburn got 7. Castleton, Vermont, reported 7 inches.
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3:52 p.m.
Virtually everything has shut down in New Hampshire due to the storm - even the state-run liquor stores.
The state Liquor Commission shut down all 79 New Hampshire Liquor & Wine Outlets as of 3 p.m. Tuesday. They will reopen Wednesday morning.
Chairman Joseph Mollica said the safety and well-being of store workers and consumers “is of paramount importance” and he encouraged everyone to travel safely.
In January 2015, Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan declared a state of emergency during a storm and shut down a number of agencies, including the liquor stores.
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3:40 p.m.
The National Weather Service says the nor’easter has reached blizzard criteria with winds topping 40 mph and low visibility in northern New England.
Meteorologist Chris Kimble says winds hit 41 mph Tuesday afternoon in Portland, Maine, and 51 mph at Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
He says a blizzard warning was expanded from Kittery to Belfast in Maine, and Portsmouth to Manchester in New Hampshire.
The strong wind is causing sporadic power outages.
The snow, meanwhile, is being blamed for an accident that claimed the life of 16-year-old girl in New Hampshire, whose car slid into a tree.
Officials are warning the public to stay off the roads if possible. Snow totals of 20 inches or more are possible.
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1:50 p.m.
Police say a 16-year-old girl has been killed in a traffic accident in New Hampshire, after she lost control of her car on a snowy road and hit a tree.
New Hampshire State police say the accident happen about 7 a.m. Tuesday on Route 11A in Gilford. The girl was transported to Lakes Region General Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Police said the girl’s identity was being withheld pending the notification of her family.
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1:41 p.m.
Vermont Gov. Phil Scott and his administration are advising the public to avoid unnecessary travel during the snowstorm that is expected to dump up to 24 inches of snow in parts of the state, with blizzard conditions in some areas.
Scott says his administration is closely monitoring the storm and potential impacts on Vermont’s roadways, infrastructure and public safety.
He says the Vermont Agency of Transportation has 250 plow trucks active statewide, with 25 more trucks available if needed.
The Burlington International Airport says almost all flights have been canceled. Three flights departed earlier today and four were expected to arrive later in the day.
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11:46 a.m.
The nor’easter that’s bringing late-winter misery to northern New England is tracking a bit more westward than originally expected.
Meteorologist Andy Pohl from the National Weather Service says that means there could be a mix of sleet and freezing rain on the New Hampshire and southern Maine coast. He says that also could mean some 30-inch totals in the far northern parts of New Hampshire and Vermont.
The storm has prompted a rare blizzard warning in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, and all three states are expected snow totals of a foot to 20 inches of snow. Many residents have heeded the call to stay home. There have been some highway accidents but traffic has been light. Hundreds of schools and businesses are closed.
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11:20 a.m.
As Vermont braces for the biggest snowstorm of the season with blizzard conditions in some areas, flights have been cancelled, schools are closed, and state government offices will close at noon.
The storm is forecast to dump up to 20 inches of snow in some areas with strong gusty winds and whiteout conditions. Blizzard conditions are expected in the Champlain Valley.
Champlain College in Burlington is closed and the University of Vermont is closing at noon on Tuesday until Thursday morning.
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11 a.m.
A number of New Hampshire towns have rescheduled local elections as the snow piles up from a nor’easter, but some have stayed open, on schedule.
In Durham, Town Administrator Todd Selig recommended that residents “make every effort” to vote early, as the storm was expected to get worse Tuesday afternoon. He said residents who are uncomfortable with driving in the snow could call police for a ride.
Selig said the decision to proceed with voting was made after much consideration and discussion among the moderator, town clerk, and others.
Republican Gov. Chris Sununu on Monday strongly recommended that town elections be held, but that given differing opinions, the state isn’t in a position to mandate that the towns stay open.
Sununu’s town, Newfields, postponed its elections until Tuesday, March 21, saying the safety of voters and election workers is “paramount.”
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10 a.m.
Vermonters are bracing as the biggest snowstorm of the season bears down on the state, promising up to 20 inches of snow in some areas with strong gusty winds and whiteout conditions.
A blizzard warning is in effect through 11 a.m. Wednesday for western Vermont. A winter storm warning is in effect for the rest of the state.
Schools and businesses across the state are closed in anticipation of the storm, which was forecast to reach its peak intensity Tuesday afternoon and evening with snowfall rates of 2 inches an hour.
Most flights into and out of the Burlington International Airport were cancelled.
Vermont Emergency Management says people who must travel should slow down and prepared for reduced visibility
12:35 a.m.
The same storm that’s expected to pummel New York City and Boston is also going to bring misery to northern New England.
The National Weather Service is forecasting a foot to 20 inches of snow across Maine and New Hampshire and most of Vermont. Meteorologist Chris Kimble says heavy snow and gusts of 30 to 35 mph prompted a blizzard warning for southwestern Maine and parts of New Hampshire.
The nor’easter arrives in the region Tuesday morning, and then gathers power. The worst will be over by Wednesday morning.
The storm is expected to create travel problems and cause school delays and closures from Maine to the mid-Atlantic. In New Hampshire, towns are holding elections, and some towns have rescheduled
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