Powerful autumn nor'easter batters northeastern US with heavy rain and strong 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.”