Nor’easter a ‘life and death’ situation along East Coast

March will roar in like a lion in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast on Friday and Saturday as a potent storm delivers a mix of howling winds, drenching rain, heavy snow and powerful waves.

Power outages, coastal flooding, damaging wind gusts and flight delays are all likely as the nor’easter explodes off the New England coast.

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

High wind warnings and watches are in effect all the way from northern Georgia to southern Maine, a distance of about 900 miles.

The worst of the wind and coastal flooding will hit from eastern Massachusetts to southern Maine, Accu-Weather meteorologist Brett Anderson said. Gusts of 75 mph are possible, the National Weather Service said.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker activated 200 National Guard members to help with the storm, the Associated Press reported.

“We’re expecting to see more severe flooding issues here than we did in the Jan. 4 storm,” when a Nor’easter lashed the region with heavy snow and rain, he told the AP.

“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,” said Weather Channel winter weather expert Tom Niziol.

Winds are likely to be strong enough to lead to major airline delays from Chicago to Boston, and airlines waived change fees.

The storm is expected to undergo explosive development known as bombogenesis, which is a rapid drop in atmospheric pressure of 24 millibars or more in a period of 24 hours or less, the Weather Channel said.