— Parts of New England are still feeling the full force of a blizzard that is expected to leave two feet or more of snow in most of Massachusetts. The storm is also carrying wind gusts topping 75 miles an hour.

But the storm didn't deliver as much of a blow as had been expected in New York City, New Jersey and Philadelphia. Travel bans that had been in effect have now been lifted. And New York's buses, subways and trains are getting back into service.

In southern New Jersey and Philadelphia, where a foot or more of snow had been forecast, residents are dealing with just 3 to 5 inches.

Along the Massachusetts coast, meanwhile, residents have been bracing for a powerful storm surge and the possibility of flooding and beach erosion.

A state of emergency is in effect in Maine and New Hampshire, and government offices in both states are closed today.

Parts of New York's Long Island have seen blizzard conditions, with snow falling at a rate of two inches an hour. There was more than two feet of snow on the ground by this morning in eastern Long Island.