BOSTON (AP) - The massive snowstorm that swept across the United States northeast has knocked out power to almost 640,000 homes and businesses.

Officials say wet, heavy snow and high winds snapped power lines. More than 650,000 were without power at the storm's peak.

Massachusetts is hardest hit, with more than 400,000 without power Saturday. In neighbouring Rhode Island, about 180,000 customers have lost power. Utilities in both states warned that it could be days before service is restored.

Connecticut's largest utility reports power failures affecting 38,000 homes and businesses. On New York's Long Island, about 10,000 lost power.

In Maine, about 12,000 customers lost power at the storm's peak.

Officials in New Jersey say just a few thousand customers lost power, and nearly all had their service restored Saturday. A few hundred failures were reported in New Hampshire.