Massachusetts hit hard by snowstorm

BOSTON, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Update 2:05 p.m. EST:

Even with the snow tapering in some places, others are about to be battered with round two. Up to 10 more inches are expected in the coming hours in some inland areas.

"We fully expect that there are parts of eastern and central Massachusetts where people may get ... another 5 to 10 inches of snow," Gov. Charlie Baker said around midday. "... And there are areas around eastern Massachusetts, at this point, that you would probably describe as being in a whiteout-type condition."

By midday Tuesday, a major seawall breech in Marshfield, Mass., located on the state's south shore, flooded the community, and thousands were still without power in areas that included Nantucket.

Major seawall breach from high tide on Bay Ave. Caused structural damage to home. http://t.co/7yxF16HGOK

— Marshfield Police (@Marshfield_PD) January 27, 2015

RT @danieljoecarr: @NWSBoston @CNNweather Lowell, MA more than 2' and still falling pic.twitter.com/wd6Et1LiYi

— NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) January 27, 2015

Original story follows:

Much of Massachusetts is under a foot of snow or more Tuesday, as a blizzard shut down most of the state.

The storm had less impact in New York City, where a predicted storm of historic proportions failed to occur.

By 5 a.m. Tuesday, the National Weather Service said winds of 78 mph were recorded at Massachusetts' Nantucket, with flooding on streets reported in coastal towns and islands. Boston declared a snow emergency for Tuesday, with schools closed; the city's airport was closed Monday and operations have not resumed. Gov. Charlie Baker likewise ordered a state of emergency and driving ban throughout the state Monday.

New York City, which prepared for a massive snowfall, received less than expected, although travel bans initiated Monday evening remain in force. Snow bands that were expected to strike the city instead moved north toward New England. Manhattan's Broadway theater district was closed, most events Monday night were postponed or canceled and the city's residents were urged to stay home.

"Rapidly deepening winter storms are very challenging to predict, specifically their track and how far west the heaviest bands will move," the National Weather Service said in an updated forecast. "These bands are nearly impossible to predict until they develop. Our science has come a long way, but there are still many moving parts in the atmosphere, which creates quite the forecast challenge."

New Jersey similarly suspended its rail and bus service throughout the state Monday. High winds will likely make mass transit unavailable on Tuesday, NJ Transit spokesman Ken Miller said.