Nor'easter to wallop Atlantic coast

(CNN) - A major storm is coming to the East Coast this weekend, bringing with it severe rain, hurricane-strength gusts of wind and coastal flooding.

A Nor'easter is expected to bring heavy downpours and wind from the Carolinas up to Maine.

Residents are hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst.

"The storm will overlap with three high tide cycles midday Friday, Friday night and Saturday midday. That's why the National Weather Service expects storm surges between 3 and 4 feet," Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said.

Forecasters said this Nor'easter could become a so-called "bomb cyclone."

That occurs when a storm brings a rapid drop in atmospheric pressure.

"We're obviously tough New Englanders and resilient to weather, but it's important to make smart decisions during a storm like this," Baker said.

Residents are taking precautions to protect their homes and businesses.

"Be prepared. We weren't last time, so trying a little harder this time," Julie Barry said.

Forecasters said this system will move slowly, and that means the impact of wind, rain and flooding from the storm might be felt for days.

Parts of Massachusetts and New York state are expected to get hit the hardest.

"We're scheduling people, checking equipment, gaining additional resources," said John O'Connell of PSEG Long Island.

"We are watching this very closely, we're ready to mobilize should we need to - in terms of shelters or anything like that," Nassau County Executive Laura Curran said.

Flight tracking services say the storm has already caused airports to cancel many flights for Friday.

Mother Nature isn't going to be kind to the west coast this weekend either.

The National Weather Service says heavy snow will hit the Sierra Nevada Mountains while flash flooding is expected along the California coast.

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