Severe storm closes in on US northeast

A severe snow storm is rolling into the northeastern United States, grounding thousands of flights.

It could bring New York and Boston to a standstill with very heavy snowfalls and severe wind gusts.

CNN's Chris Welch says another thing people are worried about is flooding in coastal areas.

"Where we are here in Boston, along the Atlantic ocean, there are folks worried about storm surge and dealing with flooding.

"That, on top of all the snow, who knows what could happen, and with freezing floodwaters that's a dangerous combination."

Emergency officials say if people have not stocked up with emergency supplies by now, they have missed the opportunity to do so because nobody is allowed on the roads in Connecticut, Rhode Island or Massachusetts unless they are emergency workers.

Boston mayor Thomas Menino has warned residents not to take the weather situation lightly.

"This is a storm of major proportion.

"Stay off the roads, stay home, and let the public works crews do their job."

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