Bomb Cyclone Slams Northeast With Over 80-MPH Winds, Leaving Thousands Without Power

A fall nor’easter that strengthened to a bomb cyclone has left almost half a million people without power in Massachusetts and Maine.

Residents all throughout the northeast woke up Thursday morning to downed trees and power lines due to winds gusting from 70 to 88 mph, according to NBC News. Dozens of schools from Connecticut to Maine are also closed due to the extreme weather.

At Boston's Logan International Airport more than 800 flights were canceled due to the harsh weather conditions.

CNN reported Wednesday that the nor’easter could strengthen into a bomb cyclone, which occurs when a non-tropical storm experiences at least a 24 millibar (a unit of pressure) drop within 24 hours, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The storm, which should diminish by Friday, was predicted to hit New York City and Portland, Maine with high-force winds above 39 mph as well as heavy rain. Other parts of Maine, Boston, and Rhode Island were expected to experience winds between 50 and 60 mph, according to U.S. News & World Report. However, wind conditions seem to be worse than originally forecasted as advisories and warnings are in place ranging from Virginia to Maine.

At least three inches of rain and a possibility of flash flooding is expected for areas spanning from eastern New York state to southern Maine. Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. also have similar advisories, according to U.S. News.

Additionally, areas from the Carolinas to the Gulf Coast are also expecting heavy rain and thunderstorms.

This upcoming storm could potentially have the lowest pressure on record in southern New England for the month of October, The Washington Post reported.

Anyone traveling is encouraged to check their flight status before heading to the airport, as some flight delays may occur as high winds and intense rainfall may effect scheduled trips.