New York

Northeast poised to weather heavy snow

The Northeast is bracing for winter’s last hurrah — a blizzard expected to sweep the New York region starting Monday with possibly the season’s biggest snowstorm dumping up to 18 inches on Central Park.

The National Weather Service issued a blizzard watch Sunday for coastal regions, including New York City and surrounding areas of Long Island, Westchester County and Connecticut.

A winter storm watch was in effect for a larger area of the Northeast: New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New England.

In New York City, forecasters said the first snow is expected late Monday or just after midnight Tuesday, with up to four inches falling by dawn. Heavy snow the rest of the day could pile 10 to 14 inches more of white stuff, with sustained winds of about 30 mph and wind gusts of up to 50 mph.

New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D) said Sunday that the New York State Emergency Operations Center will be activated Monday evening, with stockpiles of sandbags, generators and pumps at the ready, as well as snow-removal vehicles and salt spreaders.

— Associated Press

Fire official wounded in crash dies: A Pennsylvania fire official who was wounded in a crash while responding to a fire that killed a young girl has died of his injuries, authorities said. Lt. Dennis DeVoe, a 21-year veteran, died Saturday “surrounded by his family and close friends,” said Harrisburg Fire Chief Brian Enterline, who called him “a leader in our department and the fire service as a whole.” Gov. Tom Wolf (D) on Sunday ordered flags to be flown at half-staff to honor DeVoe. The governor said flags would remain at half-staff at the Capitol Complex until DeVoe’s interment.

Fourth home shooting victim identified: A relative has identified the fourth victim in a shooting at a New Orleans home that left a woman and two children dead. WDSU-TV reported that Debra Smith said Sunday that her granddaughter A’Miya Smith, 12, was severely wounded in the March 10 shooting. Smith is the daughter of Monique Smith, 30, who was killed along with her two boys, Jumyrin Smith, 6, and Justin Simms, 10. A’Miya, who was shot in the face, remains in critical condition. No arrests have been made.

— From news services