More than a half-million homes and businesses were left without power in New England on Wednesday due to a nor’easter that battered the Atlantic coast with hurricane-force wind gusts. The storm has forced the closure of bridges, ferries, and schools in the region.

Storm’s winds and rain were felt as far north as Nova Scotia. Utility workers worked to restore power as the winds diminished throughout the day. But it will take days to restore power in the hardest-hit areas in southeastern Massachusetts, the Cape Cod Times reported quoting the utility Eversource.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency reported about 425,000 power outages after powerful winds blew tree branches laden with wet, heavy leaves onto power lines. Utilities reported about 90,000 customers without power in Rhode Island, 17,000 in Maine, 15,000 in Connecticut, and 6,000 in New Hampshire.

Officials advised against travel in southeastern Massachusetts because of wind, toppled trees, and downed power lines. At the airport in New Bedford, the wind flipped a small plane over a fence.

The highest gust of the storm was recorded at 94 mph (151 mph) at a ferry dock on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, officials said.

Dozens of schools canceled classes. Power lines in Connecticut came down on a school bus headed to Middletown High School. No injuries were reported. Six students were on the bus, which continued its route after emergency responders removed the power lines, the Associated Press reported.

In Rhode Island, authorities closed the Newport Pell and Jamestown Verrazzano Bridges amid wind gusts as high as 70 mph early Wednesday, then reopened them shortly afterward to most vehicles. School buses were not permitted to cross until Wednesday afternoon.

Ferry service to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket islands was suspended Wednesday.

One driver was killed and another injured when a tree limb fell on two passing vehicles in Morris Township in northern New Jersey, authorities said.

(With AP inputs)