US: Dangerous nor’easter plows toward east coast

A sprawling winter storm barreled toward the Atlantic Coast on Thursday and was expected to pound most of it with a potent mix of rain, snow, gusty winds and storm surge that forecasters warn could flood neighborhoods, knock out power and destroy homes. “Take this storm seriously!” the National Weather Service’s Boston branch warned on Twitter Thursday. “This is a LIFE & DEATH situation for those living along the coast.” The effects of the nor’easter, which could linger through Saturday or beyond, are expected to stretch as far south as Georgia and South Carolina, all the way north to Maine. Weather officials say 10 inches of snow — or perhaps more — could blanket parts of New York; some areas of New England could get three to four inches of rain; and some coastal towns are expected to be hit with winds of 50 miles per hour or more. The expected conditions are so worrisome that some airlines, like Delta and Southwest, have put out warnings about the weather’s impact on flights and are allowing travellers to change their Friday and Saturday reservations. At La Guardia Airport, employees have secured the cranes and other construction equipment that was being used as part of a redevelopment program. They say they will redeploy it as needed.<br/>