A storm system that brought record snowfalls to the U.S. and left tens of thousands without power in the Maritimes hit Newfoundland with a mix of high winds, snow and rain on Monday.

The storm closed schools in central Newfoundland, knocked out power in various parts of the island and made highway driving treacherous.

The worst of the storm had passed by early Monday afternoon, with Environment Canada holding only one weather warning for the Bonavista Peninsula.

The unseasonable October storm had dumped as much as 81 centimetres of snow on parts of the northeastern United States, before surging into Atlantic Canada on Sunday.

Police urged motorists to be cautious on many highways, particularly in western and central Newfoundland. Most roads west of Glovertown were snow-covered and slippery early Monday.

Electricity remained out in the Codroy Valley, in western Newfoundland. Crews by Monday afternoon had restored power in numerous locations, including Corner Brook, Fortune Harbour, St. Anthony and parts of the Port au Port Peninsula.

Schools were closed for at least the morning in such communities as Gander, Grand Falls-Windsor and Botwood. Up to 25 centimetres of snow was expected for inland portions of the south coast, western and central Newfoundland, while up to 30 millimetres of rain was expected along the south coast and eastern Newfoundland.

The system was also expected to bring strong northeasterly winds to much of the island, with winds gusts up to 120 km/h expected for parts of the south coast. Though the winds were expected to die down overnight, high waves and pounding surf were forecast along the east coast from Bonavista Bay to Cape Race, with flooding possible.

Weather blamed for 2 fatal crashes

On Sunday, RCMP said the weather was a possible factor in at least two fatal motor vehicle accidents — a three-vehicle crash near Kent Junction, N.B., in which three people were killed, and a single-vehicle accident on Route 3 near Pooles Corner in Kings County, P.E.I.

Halifax residents deal with soggy driving conditions on Quinpool Road. (Christina Copp/CBC)

NB Power reported more than 3,300 outages Sunday evening across New Brunswick, but that number had fallen to about 400 by 8:15 a.m. AT.

High winds and pounding surf caused a boat carrying two men to crash against the rocks near the Royal Kennebeccasis Yacht Club in Saint John. The men were able to get to shore on their own. They were wet and cold, but otherwise OK.

On Prince Edward Island, there were 3,000 Maritime Electric customers without power Sunday, but the utility said power was restored to all customers by 3 a.m.

In Halifax, rainfall and heavy winds Sunday caused flooding in some streets.

The Cobequid Pass toll plaza on Highway 104 saw snow, rain and high winds. The CBC's Donna Allen reported early Sunday evening there was heavy rain on either side of the pass with snow on the top of the pass. Road conditions were slippery in places.

Early Sunday evening, more than 35,000 customers were without power in the Nova Scotia communities of southern Cape Breton, Chester, Dartmouth, Bridgetown, Digby, Barrington, Kentville, Cheticamp and Ingonish. That number had dropped to about 12,000 by 8:15 a.m.

Rough seas forced Northumberland Ferries to suspend service all day Sunday between P.E.I. and Nova Scotia, and the first crossings Monday were cancelled as well.

Confederation Bridge was closed to high-sided vehicles most of Sunday afternoon and into the evening due to strong gusts between 80 to 105 km/h.

The storm's effects were being felt as far away as Quebec City, which saw flurries early Sunday morning.

Storm blamed for 11 U.S. deaths

In the U.S., the freak storm knocked out power to more than 3.1 million homes and businesses across the northeast, smashing record snowfall totals for October.

Communities in western Massachusetts were among the hardest hit. The town of Peru received 81 centimetres of snow, CBC weather specialist Jay Scotland said.

The storm was blamed for at least 11 deaths, and states of emergency were declared in New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and parts of New York.

Roads, rails and airline flights were knocked out, and passengers on a JetBlue flight were stuck on a plane in Hartford, Conn., for more than seven hours on Saturday.

More than 800,000 power customers were without electricity in Connecticut alone — shattering the record set in August by Hurricane Irene. Massachusetts had more than 670,000 outages, and New Jersey more than 600,000.

Parts of Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, New York, Maine, Maryland and Vermont also were without power.

Saturday was only the fourth snowy October day in New York's Central Park since record-keeping began 135 years ago.

With files from The Associated Press