Boston ? A late-winter storm lashed parts of the Northeast with icy winds and frigid temperatures Tuesday, closing Boston’s airport, knocking out power to thousands of homes and threatening to dump up to 10 inches of snow in some areas.

Whiteout conditions forced authorities to close Logan International Airport after a number of flights were canceled. Logan spokesman Phil Orlandella said the airport planned to reopen early today.

Boston expected to receive 6 to 8 inches by this morning. Forecasters said the city’s northern and western suburbs could get up to 10 inches.

Scattered power outages caused by gusty winds left about 21,000 utility customers without electricity.

In New Jersey, slick driving conditions caused scores of highway wrecks. “I have more accidents than I have troopers,” state police Capt. Al Della Fave said.

The state remained under a wind advisory. Winds reached 61 mph hour in northwest New Jersey and 50 mph in Atlantic City.

The wintery conditions came only a day after spring-like weather conditions raised temperatures in the Northeast into the 60s under clear, sunny skies.

Authorities inspect vehicles involved in one of a string of pileups involving as many as 90 vehicles Tuesday along U.S. 131 in Plainfield Township, Mich. One person was killed, and more than 30 were injured, police said.

Michigan also saw a string of pileups along U.S. 131 in Plainfield Township. One person was killed, and more than 30 were injured in the wrecks, police said.

In North Carolina, a line of strong thunderstorms rumbled across the countryside with winds up to 70 mph, toppling trees, damaging buildings and cutting electrical service to tens of thousands of homes.

At one point, more than 34,000 utility customers were without power.

In Cumberland County, an estimated 23,000 chickens died when high winds blew the roofs off a pair of chicken houses, Raleigh television station WRAL reported.

A suspected tornado threw a large pine tree into a home in Wilson County, punching a hole in the roof.