ALBANY, N.Y. – A powerful storm moving up the East Coast dumped a dangerous mix of freezing rain and snow across much of the Northeast on Friday, snarling traffic and giving thousands of schoolchildren an early start on the weekend.

The nor’easter – characterized by northeast winds of 15 mph to 20 mph – was expected to bring up to 2 feet of snow to New York’s Catskills mountains and the Berkshires in western Massachusetts, the National Weather Service said.

Before the weekend is over, meteorologists predict up to 16 inches of snow in northwestern New Jersey. Parts of New Hampshire and western Maine will be slammed with 10 to 20.

With the storm forecast comes the potential for power outages, the Maine Bureau of Health has issued a warning to all residents to be careful when using a generator or similar alternative heating or power source. Improper operation or placement of such devices can result in carbon monoxide poisoning.

“Without question, the most important thing people should remember if they use a generator is to place it outside of the home away from any windows or doors in a well-ventilated location,” said state toxicologist Dr. Andrew Smith.

Many areas were still digging out from a Christmas Day storm that knocked out power to thousands of people.

“I’ve had my white Christmas and that’s enough,” said Tom Guilianelli, 33, filling up his delivery truck at a gas station in suburban Albany.

At least three deaths were blamed on the latest storm. Two people died in separate traffic accidents in Connecticut and the New Jersey State Police said a man was killed jumping off an elevated highway to avoid an out-of-control truck.

The storm began lashing the region with rain and blustery wind late Thursday and the rain turned to snow as temperatures fell Friday. Dozens of accidents were reported on highways across the region; some roads were flooded by rain.

“We definitely have our work cut out for us,” said Tom Daly, storm monitor with the Connecticut Department of Transportation. “It’s slippery going out there.”