Powerful storm pummels northeast US with rain and high winds

Heavy rain and strong winds battered the northeastern US on Saturday as an unusually powerful autumn storm intensified, forcing the cancellation of hundreds of flights and leaving tens of thousands of people without power.New York, Boston and Philadelphia were all in the firing line of the “nor'easter” – so labelled for its northeasterly winds – as authorities warned of potential major flooding and road closures.“This storm is expected to bring major coastal flooding to the mid-Atlantic coast over multiple high tide cycles through the weekend,” the National Weather Service said in its latest forecast.“Prepare immediately for significant inundation in low-lying areas near the shore, including roads underwater and impacts to homes and businesses.”More than 95,000 customers in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania were without power as of 3pm on Saturday, according to the monitoring tool poweroutage.com.A family carries their belongings on a flooded road in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, on Saturday. Photo: AFPNew York state Governor Kathy Hochul said the storm was bearing down Saturday on coastal areas of New York City and Long Island.“Conditions are extremely dangerous. Anyone who goes in or near the water this weekend is literally gambling with their life,” Hochul said in a press briefing.