NEW YORK — Tens of millions of people along the U.S. East Coast hunkered down for a storm that for most failed to live up to predictions that it would be one of the worst they’d ever seen.

Forecasters originally said the storm could bring up to 3 feet (about a meter) of snow and punishing hurricane-force winds. But early Tuesday, they downgraded most of those numbers, saying New England would fare the worst, but even then not as bad as expected.

Bruce Sullivan of the National Weather Service said Boston and Providence, Rhode Island, could get the most snow, about 2 feet (half a meter). New York could see up to 20 inches (50 centimeters), Hartford, Connecticut, up to 2 feet (half a meter), and Philadelphia and central New Jersey about 6 inches.

The National Weather Service over the weekend had issued a blizzard warning for a 250-mile (400-kilometer)swath of the region, meaning heavy, blowing snow and potential whiteout conditions.

On Monday, life abruptly stopped across the region as officials ordered workers to go home early, banned travel, closed bridges and tunnels, and assembled their biggest plowing crews.

“When you wake up in the morning, it is going to look like a blizzard,” said Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, echoing the concern of many government leaders.

Light snow fell steadily early Tuesday in midtown Manhattan as a few municipal trucks rumbled down empty streets. The city had an almost eerie feel to it. No airplanes in the sky, making for an unexpected quiet.

More than 7,700 flights in and out of the Northeast were canceled, and many of them may not take off again until Wednesday. Schools and businesses let out early. Government offices closed. Shoppers stocking up on food jammed supermarkets and elbowed one another for what was left. Broadway stages went dark.

Mayor Bill de Blasio urged New Yorkers to go home and stay there, adding: “People have to make smart decisions from this point on.”

Commuters like Sameer Navi, 27, of Long Island, were following the advice.

Navi, who works for Citigroup in Manhattan, said he takes a train every day and left work early Monday after warnings by local officials to get home before the brunt of the storm.

“I did leave earlier than usual,” he said.