'Bomb Cyclone' Brings Wind, Flooding And Snow To Northeast, Killing Several

Updated at 8:46 p.m. ET

The storm system that pummeled much of the East Coast on Friday had moved hundreds of miles offshore by Saturday, but residual wind gusts and coastal flood threats, exacerbated by high tide, continued to plague the region from Maryland through Maine.

Scientists say the storm has met the definition of a "bomb cyclone," a dramatic name that seemed fitting for the vast damage already wrought over the region Saturday.

"It really just refers to a strong low pressure system that intensifies very rapidly," said Patrick Burke, a lead forecaster with NOAA's Weather Prediction Center. "What it means is very intense winds, like you saw across all of the East Coast."

Gusts hit 70 mph Friday, but the highest was recorded in Barnstable, Mass., on Cape Cod, at 93 mph, Burke said.

In all, at least eight people reportedly died from trees or limbs crashing down.

In Putnam County, N.Y. police said an 11-year-old boy died Friday afternoon after a tree crashed onto his home. In Chesterfield County, Va., another child, age 6, lay asleep in his bed in the early morning hours Friday when a tree toppled on his residence, killing him, said the county in a statement.

Six other people were killed — all adults in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts — all from falling trees or branches, according to The Associated Press.

The winds also brought down power lines, leaving around 2 million people in the cold and dark Saturday, mainly in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York, Maryland and Virginia, according to poweroutage.us.

Amtrak resumed modified service with significant delays between Washington, D.C., and New York City on Saturday, after shutting down a day earlier.

Flights were beginning to get back to normal following thousands of cancellations and delays Friday. But the website FlightAware, said residual problems remained at airports around Washington, D.C., up through Boston.

Airports advised passengers to check with their airlines and leave extra time for travel.

Mass. Gov. Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency Saturday for "what is anticipated to be a prolonged recovery effort." (The governors of Maryland and of Virginia had also made declarations on Friday.)

On Thursday, Baker activated the National Guard to assist with evacuation and rescue efforts.

The National Weather Service warned of more flooding to come along the Massachusetts coast, including Boston.

"Vulnerable structures along the immediate shoreline will again be vulnerable for damage from waves on top of high water levels for the midday high tide," NWS said. Storm surge could reach 3.5 feet midday Saturday in the area south of Boston, it said.

Boston's downtown near the waterfront experienced flooding Friday. The tide surpassed 14 feet reports The Boston Herald, and "sent water pouring into the Blue Line's Aquarium Station and waves lapping into streets and onto restaurant patios."

Quincy was hit hard too, as CBS Boston reported, "At high tide during Friday's nor'easter, Quincy was under water." Waves submerged cars and more than 100 people had to be rescued, the station reports.

Quincy Police tweeted midday Saturday, "Areas that flooded yesterday and last night are flooding again."

About 15 miles south, the town of Scituate also experienced major flooding.

In addition to rain and wind, the nor'easter also brought significant snowfall to some areas. "Across central and southern New York, one to three feet of snow fell very quickly from this storm," Burke said.

Copyright 2018 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.