US bomb cyclone Jan 2018
© AP / Michael Dwyer
On Thursday, airliners canceled more than 3,600 flights after a major winter storm, the fearsomely termed bomb cyclone, dished out mayhem across the northeastern US, according to FlightAware.com, an online flight tracking service.

More cancellations are expected Friday as the storm lingers in New England.


​The area that saw the most cancellations was, of course, New York. Sitting in white-out conditions and being pounded by strong winds, John F. Kennedy International Airport began cancelling flights at around 11 a.m. local time before suspending flights completely.


​LaGuardia Airport, also located in the Empire State, later announced via Twitter that it would join JFK in temporarily suspending its flights.


​Stranded passengers have been urged by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to contact airliners to confirm the status of their flights. It is unclear how long the airports will suspend their services.


​"The issue impacting operations at the moment is the ability to plow snow fast enough," Sara Orsi, senior marketing manager for FlightAware, told USA Today. "As the storm moves through, de-icing capacity will be a greater concern and will limit operations at airports along the East Coast."



​With the storm now angling toward Massachusetts, videos are beginning to emerge showing massive flooding along the Boston Harbor.


​Reporters on the scene are describing storm tides from the harbor reaching "historic levels." Flooding has even reached some of the city's subway stations, forcing closures.

But the flooding and loads of snow is just the beginning, folks. Parts of the US East Coast are also getting themselves prepared for power outages triggered by high winds. According to CNN meteorologist Dave Hennen, wind gusts along the coast could get as strong as 80 mph.


And that's not all. Per Hennen, ocean ice could even surf its way inland "thanks to mammoth 13-18 foot waves."


"Stay away from the coasts," the National Weather Service in Boston tweeted, as it warned of a "high astronomical tide."

Astronomical tide, indeed.


​"The storm is intense! Expect the unexpected," it added.

Though the storm is projected to leave the New York area by Thursday evening, forecasters predict the region may see up to 10 inches of snow before it does, while the Long Island borough could get roughly 12 inches. Boston, too, is looking ahead to an estimated foot of snow.


The powerful storm began its weather attack on the US southeastern coast Wednesday, pummeling Georgia, South Carolina and even Florida with snow, sleet and freezing rain, before it traveled north Thursday.
UPDATE: AccuWeather reports the Storm Grayson will bring harsh cold and biting winds to the Midwest and Northeast:
US bomb cyclone temperatures
Despite already experiencing some of their coldest weather in recent years, residents of the Midwest and Northeast will need to brace for another round of arctic air by Friday.

The arctic air will bast into the region behind the blizzard that hammered the coastal Northeast on Thursday.

This new wave of cold air will be close to the level of cold experienced at the end of 2017 and start of 2018 in the Midwest, central Appalachians and interior South.

Actual temperatures may reach their lowest point of the season so far in coastal areas of the Northeast, such as in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York City and Boston.

AccuWeather RealFeel® temperatures may be lower in some cases, especially in parts of the Northeast due to winds from the departing storm.

Temperatures are anticipated to bottom out Friday through Saturday. Temperature readings are not likely to exceed the single digits on Friday from Minneapolis to Indianapolis; Albany, New York; and Burlington, Vermont. High temperatures in coastal areas of the Northeast are expected to be in the teens in many areas.

storm greyson temps accuweather
© AccuWeather
"On Saturday, Boston will challenge its lowest maximum temperature ever recorded for the date, which stands at 7 from 1896," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Renee Duff.

A biting wind will accompany these frigid conditions, making it feel even colder. In the ski country of northern New York and New England, AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures will be a brutal 30 degrees Fahrenheit below zero throughout the day on Friday.

It will be important for anyone venturing outside to cover every inch of skin, utilizing hats, mittens, scarves and balaclavas or face masks.

"If not adequately dressed in such conditions, the risk of frostbite is high, even if you spend less than 15 minutes outdoors," Duff warned.

At least 17 deaths have been linked to the brutally cold weather which has gripped the nation, the Associated Press reported.

Pets and other animals should not be left without proper shelter from the cold and wind in these conditions.

Anyone who may lose power due to the powerful storm should make every effort to stay in a warm location until power is restored.

The wind will also be strong enough to result in property damage, power outages and travel delays across the region. Airline delays at major hubs may ripple across the nation, causing further delays even outside of the Midwest and Northeast.

As cold winds whip over the region, another round of lake-effect snow will ramp up downwind of the Great Lakes. Several inches of fresh snow and frequent white-out conditions will again make travel dangerous across the area.
Lake effect snow storm grayson
© AccuWeather
"For those who find the brutal cold unbearable and downright miserable, there is some hope on the horizon," Elliott said.

Early next week, an approaching storm will cause the bitter cold to retreat toward Canada, allowing temperatures to return to near-normal levels for a brief time, according to Elliott.