The onslaught was forecast to continue Friday with more heavy snow, howling winds and bitterly cold temperatures.
The National Weather Service said 21 inches of snow had fallen in Boxford, just north of Boston. Parts of Upstate New York had 18 inches. In Central Park early Friday, the National Weather Service said just over 3 inches of snow had fallen.
Nationwide on Thursday, more than 3,000 flights were cancelled because of the weather and over 10,000 flights were delayed, according to FlightStats.com. By early Friday, hundreds more flights had already been cancelled or delayed.
The worst weather is expected along coastal New England and on Long Island, where blizzard warnings are in effect until late Friday.
"What a New Year's gift, to receive one last snowstorm as mayor," said Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, who on Monday is leaving the office he has held for 20 years.
In New York, newly sworn in Mayor Bill de Blasio, who as public advocate in 2010 criticized his predecessor Michael Bloomberg for his handling of a post-Christmas storm, said hundreds of plows and salt spreaders would be on the streets.
