Tens of millions of people along the East Coast hunkered down for a storm that for most was apparently failing to live up to predictions of being one of the worst they’d ever seen.

Forecasters originally said the storm could bring 1 to 3 feet 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 there not as bad as expected.

223