Winter Storm

Deadly Winter Storm Fortis Slammed Northeast, Tens of Thousands Lost Power

At a Glance

100,000+ were without power Friday morning in Maine.
A driver in Vermont was killed in a snowy crash Thursday.

Tens of thousands of people in the Northeast woke up without power Friday morning, after deadly Winter Storm Fortis delivered strong winds and over two feet of snow to portions of the Northeast.

“Winter Storm Fortis brought very heavy snow and strong winds Thursday night into Friday, with snowfall rates of 4 to 6 inches per hour in portions of Maine,” said weather.com meteorologist Linda Lam. “Thundersnow was also reported in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maine. Snow will linger in northern New England on Friday, especially during the morning.”

(FORECAST: Winter Storm Fortis)

At least one death has been blamed on the storm. In Vermont, a vehicle slid off a road and into a tree, killing the driver.

Here are the impacts from the storm in every state:

Maine:

More than 100,000 people were without power in Maine Friday morning but that number had dropped to just over 20,000 by midday Saturday. Countless trees and power lines were down across the state and there had been numerous crashes on roads, police said.

In Orono, heavy snow caused the domed structure used by student-athletes at the University of Maine athletic complex to collapse.

A portion of Route 22 in Gorham, Maine, was closed due to downed trees and power lines, The Portland Press Herald reports.

The storm was believed to have contributed to a fatal fire in the town of Pownal. The victim's power had gone out, and investigators suspect he was using an alternative heat source when he died early Friday.

More than 150 businesses, schools and government offices were reporting cancellations, delays or closings. Click here for a comprehensive list of active closings, cancellations and delays.

Maine currently has the top snowfall total from the winter storm. More than two feet, 27 inches of snow, fell on Naples, Maine, about an hour northwest of Portland, Maine.

Vermont:

Vermont State Police said a 69-year-old man was killed on Thursday when his car slid off a snow-covered road in Cornwall and hit a tree.

Robert J. Fields of Orwell, Vermont, was traveling west on VT RT 74 when the accident occurred. He was pronounced dead at Porter Hospital in Middlebury.

Weather.com meteorologist Linda Lam said light snow began in the Cornwall area during the late morning Thursday and continued through the afternoon.

"Winds gusted between 20 and 25 mph midday and fog was also reported at times," she said. "Visibility was reduced to a mile or less at times due to these conditions."

Interstate closures were also reported on Thursday, with Interstate 91 northbound and southbound closed between exits 2 and 3 due to multiple accidents.

No major power outages have been reported by utility companies in Vermont as of Friday morning.

New Hampshire:

While some were without power in New Hampshire on Friday morning, the outage totals reported were low and isolated.

Updated numbers from Eversource showed the majority of outages - nearly 300 customers - were concentrated in Windham County. Statewide, there were approximately 600 customers impacted by outages.

MORE ON WEATHER.COM: Scenes From Winter Storm Fortis