BOSTON -- Another weekend, another major snow storm: The latest system to sweep the U.S. Northeast brought another 30 centimetres to Boston -- on top of 1.8 metres that has fallen over the last month -- and tested residents who say the winter is beginning to feel like one without end.

Even after the storm, forecasters warned of exceptionally cold air, perhaps the coldest yet of the season. Strong winds expected to continue into Monday reduced visibility, created drifts and complicated an ongoing cleanup effort. Forecasters were talking about another storm on the horizon for midweek.

"It's historic. It's biblical," attorney Frank Libby said as he walked down a deserted street in Boston's Back Bay neighbourhood. "I think we're in uncharted territory. People just don't know how to deal with the logistics of it."

He had one message for Mother Nature: "Give us a break."

------

A DEEP FREEZE

A bone-chilling blast of cold, with lows of -23 C was in the Sunday night forecast in parts of the region. The temperatures are expected to be the coldest of the season, according to the National Weather Service.

"We're dropping below zero and wind chills will be dropping to -29 C and maybe -31 C by morning," said National Weather Service meteorologist Bill Simpson. "People should take it seriously. It is the coldest in Massachusetts in many years."

The Arctic cold front already had settled over Michigan by midday Sunday, sending temperatures plunging to -33 C in the Upper Peninsula and -30 C in the northern Lower Peninsula.

------

SNOW TOTALS

Some areas of New England reported nearly 60 cm of snow from the storm including Acushnet, Massachusetts with 55 cm. Boston recorded 32.5 cm of new snow. At the easternmost tip of Maine, Lubechad had 60 cm.

With many intersections already clogged by soaring snow banks, forces mobilized before the storm to remove piles of snow. Massachusetts called up the National Guard troops to help and Hanscom Air Force base outside Boston became a staging area for heavy equipment pouring in from eight other Northeastern states.

------

LIGHTNING AND WHITEOUT CONDITIONS

Although the storm did not bring the eye-popping snow totals of others this season, it made its presence felt with lightning strikes and strong winds that left visibility close to zero for stretches along the coast.

"Oh my goodness, it's a whiteout!" said Sue Baker of Lubec, Maine, observing the wind blowing outside her bed and breakfast, the Peacock House.

The Coast Guard said it rescued an Australian father-son sailing team whose boat lost power and had its sails torn in 96.5 kph winds about 225 kilometres southeast of Nantucket, Massachusetts.

In Vermont, the wind was strong enough to force a shut-down of the Lake Champlain ferry cross between Charlotte and Essex, New York.

------

SOUTHERN SNOW TOO?

New Englanders won't be the only ones with the winter blues, forecasters say. A snow storm could bring 15 to 22.5 centimetres of snow to parts of Arkansas, Missouri and Tennessee. Freezing rain was forecast for northern Mississippi and 5 to 10 centimetres of snow and sleet will be possible in north Georgia.

The storm also threatened Atlanta, where just over a year ago an ice storm trapped commuters for hours on the region's freeways.

AP writers Rik Stevens in Concord, New Hampshire, William J. Kole in Bourne, Massachusetts, Denise Lavoie in Whitman, Massachusetts, Rodrique Ngowi in Scituate, Massachusetts, Sylvia Lee Wingfield in Boston and David Sharp in Portland, Maine contributed to this report. Melia reported from Hartford, Connecticut.