A massive storm packing hurricane-force winds and blizzard conditions is sweeping through the Northeast, dumping more than 2 feet of snow on New England and knocking out power to 650,000 customers.

More than 28 inches of snow had fallen in parts of central Connecticut by early Saturday, and areas of southeastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire notched 2 feet or more.

Throughout the Northeast, hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses lost electricity. Airlines canceled more than 5,300 flights through Saturday, and New York City's three major airports and Boston's Logan Airport closed.

Police in New York say hundreds of cars have gotten stuck on the Long Island Expressway during a massive snowstorm and dozens of disabled motorists are still on the road.

Suffolk County police say cars began getting stuck Friday afternoon because weather conditions have been so bad. Authorities say vehicles are backed up and can't pass one another, and mounds of snow from plows have made it difficult for them to exit the highway.

In Massachusetts, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission says a power plant has lost power and shut down during the massive snowstorm.

The NRC says the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant in Plymouth experienced an automatic shutdown at around 9:15 p.m. Friday after losing off-site power. Spokesman Neil Sheehan says the plant has declared an unusual event, which is the lowest level of emergency classification.

The NRC says there's no threat to public safety.

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