Blizzard wallops N.E.

A dangerous blizzard packing high winds and creating whiteout conditions pummeled Eastern Massachusetts yesterday, and residents braced for coastal flooding, power outages, and 2 feet or more of snow.

Governor Mitt Romney yesterday declared a state of emergency for Massachusetts and activated the National Guard in case rescues or coastal evacuations are required.

New England's worst storm of the season, the northeaster was expected to peak late last night and early this morning, by which time snowfall of 2 to 3 inches an hour and a windchill index of 15 to 20 degrees below zero were possible. The city of Boston also declared a snow emergency, beginning at 4 p.m. yesterday, while the National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for the eastern part of the state, effective until 6 p.m. today. It predicted the storm could rank in the top 10 of recorded snowfalls in southern New England.

''Here's my message: Wherever you are at 10 o'clock tonight, you should stay there until at least noon tomorrow," National Weather Service meteorologist Walter Drag said yesterday. ''This is a high-end storm with significant impact. It's a serious event."

As city and state officials announced snow emergencies and parking bans and marshaled a battalion of plow drivers yesterday, area residents spent the day stocking up on gas, groceries, videos, and snow removal equipment. The Home Depot store in Quincy ran out of snow blowers by 11 a.m., while at the Salem store, where customers were waiting for the doors to open at 6 a.m. yesterday, generators were nearly sold out by midmorning, store managers said.

''People are anxious," said Mayor Thomas M. Menino of Boston, who yesterday afternoon had not ruled out the possibility of staying at City Hall overnight to monitor the blizzard. ''They hope the forecast isn't correct, but they're out preparing for it, and the city is preparing itself, too."

Menino reminded residents not to park on main roads, not to park too close to intersections, not to abandon cars in the storm, and not to toss snow onto the street. The city's storm center hotline, offering answers to questions about the storm, was being readied yesterday, he said, and was set to operate through the blizzard at 617-635-3050.

At about 7 last night, Menino called on all nonemergency businesses in the city, including bars and restaurants, to close at 11 p.m., so employees and patrons could get home safely.

The state's Emergency Management Agency yesterday activated the emergency operations center in Framingham, where officials planned to monitor the storm and respond to requests for help from towns and cities.

A citizens' information service, operated by the secretary of state's office, is taking storm emergency calls at 800-293-4031, though any inquiry relating to a threat to life should be directed to 911.

Massachusetts Port Authority spokesman Phil Orlandella said snow removal equipment was standing ready at Logan International Airport yesterday, as the storm's progress up the East Coast began delaying flights from Logan to other affected cities.

Orlandella said about 350 flights in and out of Logan had been canceled. Nine of the 44 airlines that operate at Logan canceled all flights at least until 11 a.m. today, with some airlines canceling at least until this afternoon.

Delays ranged from one to 7½ hours yesterday afternoon, he said, and other flights had been canceled.

''I don't have a crystal ball, but if flights are canceled and people have to be rebooked, the delays could last into Monday or into Tuesday," he said.

The very cold weather that preceded the blizzard's arrival was likely to enhance its potential for high snowfall totals, said Drag, the meteorologist, who predicted that because of blowing and drifting the cleanup would continue into tomorrow. He said snow totals would top 30 inches in some areas; snowfall of more than 17.3 inches in Boston would be sufficient to place the northeaster in the top 10 storms recorded since about 1890, he said.

This major storm follows five smaller snowstorms this winter, with combined snowfall of 26 inches.

Wind gusts of 50 miles per hour were expected, he said, and gusts of 60 to 65 miles per hour were possible. ''Tomorrow morning it's going to be coming down like gangbusters here, with the wind howling," said Drag.

State Police advised drivers, if they must travel, to slow down, wear their seat belts, and fill up their gas tank and wiper fluids.

''The good thing is that it's a Saturday night into a Sunday," said Lieutenant Sharon Costine, a State Police spokeswoman. ''So hopefully people were able to get what they needed to get done" on Saturday, ''and stay in for the night so they give crews time to get the roads clear."

In anticipation of the storm, the state Highway Department treated the roads with a saltwater mixture to prevent snow and packed ice from sticking to the highways. It deployed 650 snowplows late yesterday afternoon and anticipated using as many as 5,000 as the storm intensified, a spokesman said. The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority planned to deploy 340 employees and 184 pieces of snow equipment, including snowplows and sanders, snow blowers, salt loaders, and sidewalk plows, said George Ward, director of maintenance.

''Every employee we have who works snow is in," Ward said. ''Every truck is loaded. Everybody will be here until it's over."

More customers crowded into Shaw's Supermarket on Morrissey Boulevard in Dorchester yesterday than in the days leading up to Thanksgiving, said Nick Mosca, a bakery manager who ended up bagging groceries for a while. A steady stream of people entered the store starting at 7 a.m., he said, two hours earlier than the usual Saturday morning crowd, while employees scrambled to keep the shelves stocked. Even with all 16 cash register lines open, carts snaked back to the frozen food section by 11 a.m.

''This is crazy," Mosca said. ''People panic. They hear snow, and they don't think they can get out of their house for a few days."

Isadora Loftus, 5, bundled in a purple snowsuit, sat next to a new orange plastic snow saucer in her dad's grocery cart as he shopped for chocolate and graham crackers to make S'mores. Her father, James, promised they would build a snow fort in the yard after the storm, an activity that he judged requires at least a foot of snow. The Dorchester family had planned to host a dinner party yesterday, but their friends canceled.

In the liquor store adjoining Shaw's, Sheri Jacques of South Boston stocked up on Miller Lite for today's Patriots game. She first tried shopping at the Stop & Shop down the street, but gave up when she could not find a parking spot.

''Once I get home I'm going to park my car, and I don't plan on going anywhere until Monday," she said.

South End Video in Boston saw four times as many customers as normal yesterday, said manager Bruce Reisman , and customers also streamed into Video To Go in Milton. ''We are nuts," said Gillian Blake, a sales associate.

Brian Gee of Braintree was at Home Depot in Quincy yesterday to pick up the $800 snow blower he bought the previous night. He's lived in New England for 25 years but didn't see the need for a snow blower until recently. ''I'm too old to shovel," said Gee, 37. ''I don't want to break my back."

Susan Barton walked out of the store with a $20 snow shovel that she will need to dig her Ford Explorer out from street parking in the Back Bay. A Tennessee native who moved to Boston a year ago to start her medical residency, Barton never bought a shovel last winter.

''I underestimated the need for it," she said. ''This year, I'm prepared."

Romney, speaking at a state highway department facility in Lexington, urged people to stay off the roads. ''People stranded represent a real danger to themselves because the temperatures are very, very cold, Romney said. ''Our expectation is we need people off the road not just tonight but also tomorrow."

Romney said high winds and high tides contributed to the decision to declare a state of emergency. ''We are also calling out the national guard to try to help find people who might be stranded and try to get them into shelters," he said.

''This is a great opportunity to be a great parent, to be at home with your kids," Romney added. The news conference was held outside as the snow began to fall at about 4:30 p.m.

''This is also a great opportunity to be a great neighbor," Romney said. ''If you have an elderly couple or individual in your neighborhood, a single mother or anyone that might need some special help, check in on them tomorrow morning." Despite the storm, sports bars vowed to stay open for Patriots fans fired up about today's championship game.

''Weather doesn't concern me. I'll stay open anyway, even without power. There's always radio," said Stephen Savino, co-owner of the Half-Time Grill in Sagamore on Cape Cod.

At the Sports Depot Restaurant in Allston, assistant general manager Alex Rodrigues said that, while the weather may deter even some hardcore fans, he's counting on students in the neighborhood to watch the game over pitchers of beer. ''It's a big game," Rodrigues said.

Saturdays are normally slow at Willow Package on Yarmouth Road in Hyannis, but Ed Rosario, grandson of the longtime owner, said people came to the store in droves yesterday.

''I guess with the snow people are trying to get the most they can," said Rosario.The snow was expected to be the heaviest on the South Shore and Cape Cod.

A woman tried to jump on the 8 p.m. ferry from Hyannis to Nantucket but had to find another place to stay when the captain of the Motor Vessel Eagle canceled the trip because of high winds.

''People come first," Paul Foley said.

Maria Cramer of the Globe staff and Globe correspondent Scott Goldstein contributed to this report.