US WEATHER: Norrester heads to East Coast as ten million people face snowstorm warnings, thousands of flights canceled | US news

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Ten million people along the eastern seaboard of the United States are bracing for a blizzard, with the region’s first blizzard warnings in four years and thousands of flights canceled.

Norster is expected to affect New England and the mid-Atlantic region this weekend, bringing potential coastal flooding, power outages and travel disruptions.

Meteorologists predict that the storm will undergo the process of bomb formation – a phenomenon also known as a “bomb cyclone” – which occurs when a cold air mass collides with a warm air mass, causing a rapid drop in atmospheric pressure.

Photo: Airlines have already canceled more than 5,000 flights

US meteorologist Anthony de Torres told Sky News: “This storm doesn’t happen every year, but a strong storm like this happens once or twice every decade. And this particular storm, if it resulted in more than 70 cm of snowfall in Boston, would be The largest snowfall ever observed from a single storm in the Boston metropolitan area.”

The airlines had already canceled more than 5,000 flights that were scheduled to depart between Friday and Saturday, according to flight tracking service FlightAware. More than 8,500 flights have been postponed.

More than 90% of Saturday’s schedules at Logan Airport in Boston and LaGuardia in New York were canceled, according to FlightAware.

Shoppers rushed to stores on Friday to stock up on food and buy generators and snowblowers before light – so named because the winds usually blow from the northeast as they hit the east coast.

Warnings to stay at home and away from the roads

“Today is stay-at-home day,” NBC correspondent Chris Bollon in Boston told Sky News.

“Of course, this area is used to heavy snowfall, but what will make it very dangerous are the high winds that come in blizzard-like conditions,” he said.

“They say the people on the roads won’t be able to see anything, and so they say it’s really a day to stay in, let the plows do their work and clear the roads.”

Photo: Snow is set to continue on Saturday. Pic: AP

Officials from Virginia rushed to Massachusetts to declare a state of emergency, imposing a parking ban and travel restriction before the snow, which is expected to drop at up to five inches per hour.

Boston – which can reach two feet in height – has declared a snow emergency, with the governor of Massachusetts urging people to stay indoors.

Massachusetts also banned heavy trucks on interstate highways most Saturdays.

Officials in Virginia and Maine have warned people to stay off the roads amid potentially white conditions.

Rhode Island, which is all under a blizzard warning, has banned all non-emergency road trips, starting at 8 a.m.

Delaware only allowed essential individuals to drive in two of its three counties, starting Friday night.

A powerful and dangerous winter storm will bring significant effects to parts of the mid-Atlantic, the Northeast and New England through Saturday. Snow storms are expected along parts of the mid-Atlantic coasts to New England. Here are the latest key messages. pic.twitter.com/keHsblrLxW

– NWS Weather Prediction Center (NWSWPC) January 28, 2022

Snow storm warnings

Parts of 10 states are under blizzard warnings.

The National Weather Service said the storm is developing as a low pressure system off the southeast coast and is likely to intensify as it moves up the east coast.

It issued a snowstorm warning for the Boston metropolitan area and its 4.9 million residents on Friday.

The weather service said: “Expecting blackout conditions and travel is almost impossible at times. Strong, destructive winds will lead to sporadic blackouts. Significant coastal impacts are also possible, including coastal flooding and beach erosion.”

Snow falling fast and high winds

Forecasters said up to two feet of snow could fall across the region – at speeds of up to five inches per hour – along with winds of up to 70 miles per hour early Saturday.

Winter storm warnings and warnings have been issued from Carolina across Maine, where snow is expected to continue on Saturday.

Pictures on social media showed shoppers crowding groceries and stocking up on essentials before the storm.

Photo: A waitress stands in front of a flood barrier at the entrance to a restaurant on Friday. Pics: AP

New Englanders respond calmly

A number of New Englanders took impending predictions their way.

Mark Rudkowski, 28, bought French bread and wine at a Star Market in Cambridge, Massachusetts, along with balloons and toys for his dog, who completed one on Friday.

He said, “He will love it.” “It’s a snow dog.”

Meanwhile, Merrick McCormack, 51, in Warwick, Rhode Island, said, “I don’t make a fuss about storms. I know in a couple of days we’ll be free and clear. Don’t panic.”

However, there have been some concerns about ongoing supply chain issues in the region, which have been exacerbated by the pandemic.

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