Mega blizzard aims at US Northeast

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A major snowstorm bore down on the northeastern United States Friday, with heavy snow, blizzard conditions and freezing temperatures forecast from New York through Maine as well as densely populated inland areas.

The National Weather Service predicted a "major winter storm" for Friday into Saturday and said New York City was in for blizzard conditions, including sustained strong winds and snowfall.

"Two weather systems from the polar and subtropical jet streams will combine to produce a major and potentially historic winter storm," the NWS said.

The storm comes a little over three months after Hurricane Sandy devastated the area of New York City and New Jersey, killing 132 people and causing damages estimated at over US$71.4 billion.

The latest storm was expected to pound Boston particularly hard, but forecasters said the system should blow through on Saturday, with milder temperatures to follow.

"The storm should reach its peak intensity early Saturday morning just east of Cape Cod," the weather service said, forecasting between one and two feet (30 to 60 centimetres) of snow across the region.

Strong winds of 25-35 miles (40-56 kilometres) per hour, with hurricane-strength gusts of up to 75 miles per hour, were expected, creating deep drifts.