Rare Oct snow in US plunges 2.7m into darkness

State College, Pennsylvania: A snowstorm with a ferocity more familiar in February than October socked the US Northeast over the weekend, knocking out power to 2.7 million, snarling air and highway travel and dumping more than 2 feet (60 centimeters) of snow in a few spots. Officials warned it could be days before many see electricity restored.      The combination of heavy, wet snow, leaf-laden trees and frigid, gusting winds brought down limbs and power lines. At least three deaths were blamed on the weather, and states of emergency were declared in New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and parts of New York.      The 750,000 who lost power in Connecticut broke a record for the state that was set when the remnants of Hurricane Irene hit the state in August. People could be without electricity for as long as a week, Gov Dannel P Malloy said on Sunday. The storm worsened as it moved north, and communities in western Massachusetts were among the hardest hit. Snowfall totals topped 27 inches in Plainfield, and nearby Windsor had gotten 26 inches by early Sunday.      Along the coast and in such cities as Boston, relatively warm water temperatures helped keep snowfall totals much lower. Washington received a trace of snow, tying a 1925 record for the date. NYC's Central Park set a record for both the date and the month of October with 1.3 inches of snow. Some inland towns got more than a foot (30 centimeters) of snow. West Milford, New Jersey, saw 19 inches by early Sunday. AP EARLY WINTER: A snow-covered street in New York on Saturday