A potential bomb cyclone is about to hit the northeast United States, bringing with it forecasted heavy rains and snow, ripping waves, and power outages.

Coastal flooding, damaging wind gusts, power cuts, and flight delays are expected once the nor’easter slides up close to the New England coast Friday and Saturday.

“Please take this storm seriously,” the National Weather Service in Boston said. “For those living along the coast, this is a LIFE & DEATH situation.”

The worst of Storm Riley will hit in southern Maine and Massachusetts, according to AccuWeather meteorologist Brett Anderson.

In some areas, hurricane-force winds may be expected, with gusts as fast as 75 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

“There will be the potential for severe damage to homes and other structures close to the water from the combination of high water and severe wave action,” Tom Niziol, a winter weather expert with the Weather Channel said

Snow affects UK travel Show all 23 1 /23 Snow affects UK travel Snow affects UK travel Snow causes difficult driving conditions at junction 22 of the the M62 motorway at Saddleworth in the South Pennines Rex Features Snow affects UK travel The runway and grounds at Glasgow Airport being cleared of snow PA Snow affects UK travel Travelers are being warned of dangerous roads conditions Getty Images Snow affects UK travel A Volkswagen car crashed against a Royal Mail postbox on Manse Road, Glasgow PA Snow affects UK travel Geoff Clark and his son William, 8, from Low Fell, sledging under the Angel of the North PA Snow affects UK travel Workers are having to de-ice planes at Glasgow Airport Jill Livingston Snow affects UK travel Huddersfield have experienced particularly poor visibility on the roads Getty Images Snow affects UK travel Highways England warned road users to pack shovels, food and water if they do venture out PA Snow affects UK travel A couple clearing snow off their car in Glasgow, as Britain saw one of the coldest nights of the year with temperatures falling to minus 12.3C at Loch Glascarnoch in the Scottish Highlands PA Snow affects UK travel Police attend an incident where a car came off the road in Greater Manchester Rex Features Snow affects UK travel People walk through the snow in York PA Snow affects UK travel A camel stands in the snow on a farm near Richmond, North Yorkshire PA Snow affects UK travel Huddersfield streets are covered in snow Getty Images Snow affects UK travel Leann and her children Alex (left) and Sarah sledge at Mam Tor in the Peak District PA Snow affects UK travel A Christmas tree is collected in the snow in Glasgow PA Snow affects UK travel Glasgow airport was closed during the morning due to the conditions PA Snow affects UK travel Mother Katie Meziani with her children Adam and Sara walking through the snow in Glasgow PA Snow affects UK travel Heavy snow, rain, thunderstorms and wind have caused disruption across much of Britain as a band of "severe" weather rolled across the country PA Snow affects UK travel Highland cattle in the snow by the A66 in Durham PA Snow affects UK travel A person ventures out in Glasgow. PA Snow affects UK travel A flight takes off at Glasgow Airport as the grounds are being cleared of snow PA Snow affects UK travel People attempt to travel around in the bad weather conditions PA Snow affects UK travel A snow covered landscape at Holmesfield in Derbyshire PA

State politicians are warning constituents to take the storm seriously, with Massachusetts Gov Charlie Baker announcing that he was mobilising 200 National Guard members to help with the storm’s fallout, according to the Associated Press.

“We’re expecting to see more severe flooding issues here than we did in the 4 January storm,” Mr Baker told the news service, referencing a nor’easter that hit the eastern coast of the US earlier this year with heavy snow and rain.

Forecasts show that winds could leave planes grounded in many parts of the United States.

That includes the potential for delays or cancellations in airports between Chicago and Boston. Airlines have waived change fees for passengers who can change their travel plans to avoid the winter storm.

To make matters worse, the storm could go through a dangerous and explosive phase, which is referred to as bombogenesis. during that process, atmospheric pressure drops rapidly in a 24 period time, creating a massive wind field.