Reports: Hurricane-force winds whip Northeast, leave over 2 million without power as bomb cyclone strengthens

brian.lada
Updated

A powerful bomb cyclone will continue to slam the northeastern United States into Friday night with damaging winds, coastal flooding and heavy snow.

Winds have gusted past 60 mph across many areas from Virginia through Massachusetts, leading to thousands of flight cancellations and over 2 million power outages across the region.

Hurricane-force wind gusts will continue to whip coastal New England into Friday night with gusts potentially topping 90 mph.

The strong onshore winds will lead to significant coastal flooding at high tide on Friday night with water levels approaching all-time record levels in Boston and Nantucket.

Snow will also persist across some of the interior Northeast before tapering off on Saturday morning.

For storm reports prior to 5:30 a.m. Friday, click here.

9:43 p.m. EST Friday:

Conditions will deteriorate along the coast of New England in the coming hours as high tide approaches. People near the coast should avoid floodwaters and listen to local officials. High tide in Boston will occur at 11:46 p.m. EST.

8:56 p.m. EST Friday:

The entire town of Scituate, Massachusetts is without power, according to officials. Scituate is located southeast of Boston along the coast.

The number of power outages across the region continues to rise with nearly 2.5 million customers experiencing an outage.

Water levels along the coast of New England are beginning to rise and will continue to rise over the next few hours as high tide approaches.

8:45 p.m. EST Friday:

A state of emergency has been declared in Maryland in response to the damaging nor'easter that has impacted the region.

Travel conditions may remain poor in Maryland through Saturday as crews work to clean up after the worst of the storm has passed.

7:20 p.m. EST Friday:

Boston has recorded one of its highest wind gust so far today with winds reaching 61 mph. Stronger winds have been recorded south and east of the city with Nantucket clocking a wind speed of 89 mph.

Power outages across the Northeast have climbed to over 2 million and may continue to rise into Friday night as strong winds persist across the region.

DC tree
DC tree

A tree fell on several parked cars on Woodley Road in Washington, D.C. (Photo/@molliezapata)

6:00 p.m. EST Friday:

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has declared a state of emergency in response to the severe weather impacting the state. This will help Virginia mitigate any damage caused by the storm.

5:12 p.m. EST Friday:

Amtrak has canceled all service across the Northeast Corridor until Saturday due to hazardous weather conditions.

5:03 p.m. EST Friday:

There are 160,485 customers without power in Massachusetts, according to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency.

MEMA map
MEMA map

4:20 p.m. EST Friday:

Powerful winds caused six barges to break loose from the new Tappan Zee Bridge project, according to the Palisades Interstate Parkway Police Department. The barges were floating loose along the Hudson River off of Irvington.

One barge, last seen near the Yonkers Sewer Treatment Plant, is now fully submerged. Two were found near Alpine, New Jersey. The rest remain unaccounted for.

4:11 p.m. EST Friday:

One person was injured on East Street in Tewksbury, Massachusetts after a tree fell on a vehicle. The road has been closed and the person was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

mass jeep
mass jeep

(Photo/Tewksbury Police)

3:30 p.m. EST Friday:

There have been reports of a school bus and multiple cars stuck just off the roadway in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

3:00 p.m. EST Friday:

A 6-year-old boy died after sustaining serious injuries when a tree, knocked over by strong winds, fell on his mobile home earlier today in Chester, Virginia.

2:05 p.m. EST Friday:

A flood warning is in effect for Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts, where a total of 1 inch is expected to fall, according to Boston NWS. Coastal flooding will continue through the night and is expected to worsen later tonight.

1:37 p.m. EST Friday:

The Baltimore County Police Department reported the death of a 77-year-old woman who was struck by a falling tree branch.

Damaging winds have been threatening trees and power lines throughout the day across the Northeast, including at one home that was crushed by a tree in Kensington, Maryland.