Several US governors declare states of emergency amid harsh winter storm

People from New York City to Maine awakened Saturday to half a foot (15 cm) of snow, and forecasters warned that could more than quadruple as a powerful nor’easter kicked up blinding blizzard conditions with high winds and the potential for widespread power outages and coastal flooding.

Parts of 10 states and some major population centers – Philadelphia, New York and Boston – were in the path of the storm, which was expected to rage throughout the day.

With the possibility of getting up to 60 cm of snow or more, high winds are forcing many people to leave their homes and governors are declaring states of emergency.