Updated Jan. 3, 2014 9:30 p.m. ET  Dangerously cold temperatures settled across the Eastern U.S. on Friday after a blustery snowstorm that swept in from the Midwest grounded thousands of flights, covered streets with powdery drifts and kept millions of schoolchildren home.  The storm hit hardest in Massachusetts, where some coastal regions piled up two feet of snow and endured flooding from wind-whipped high tides. But bitter temperatures and heavy snow also hampered a wide swath of the Eastern Seaboard and the Midwest, which took the brunt before the storm headed east.  At least 14 fatalities were blamed on the storm, including traffic deaths in several states and a worker who was buried under a falling pile of rock salt outside Philadelphia, the Associated Press reported.  The storm ushered in frigid air from Chicago to the mid-Atlantic region, with highs barely reaching into double digits and thermometers dipping below zero in many parts. Whipping winds were expected to make the deep freeze feel worse.  "These are dangerous conditions," said Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, who closed state offices Friday.  Milder weather was predicted for a brief respite before another arctic system is expected in parts of the Midwest and Northeast early next week, the National Weather Service said. In some places, the cold kept road salt from effectively melting ice.  "We're really getting a rude awakening into winter," said Mike Musher, a meteorologist with the weather service.  Classes were canceled for millions of schoolchildren just returning from winter break, including in Boston, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Arlington, Va., and New York City, where Mayor Bill de Blasio was dealing with the first test to his administration two days after taking office.  The storm slowed the region's transportation networks, making it very difficult to get around. Boston's Logan Airport stayed open but had virtually no flight activity overnight Thursday. Flights were also temporarily suspended Friday at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport due to a lack of visibility, and there were significant cancellations at La Guardia and Newark Liberty airports. The airports in Philadelphia and Newark were particularly snarled by delays and cancellations late Friday, according to FlightAware.com.  Overall, the airline tracker said more than 2,900 flights in, to or from the U.S. were canceled Friday, with thousands more delayed.  On the rails and roads, Amtrak operated on a reduced schedule Friday while bus operators Greyhound and Peter Pan canceled or delayed several routes, including trips between Boston and New York.  —Ted Mann contributed to this article.  Write to Jon Kamp at jon.kamp@wsj.com
The Northeast U.S. awoke Friday to a thick blanket of snow and frigid temperatures that severely disrupted travel, extended winter breaks for schools and kept state workers at home.