New York City is bracing for up to a foot of snow as a powerful nor'easter threatens to turn into a bomb cyclone that could wallop much of the Northeast and bury Boston with 18 inches this weekend. The major winter storm, which will develop off the Carolina coast late this week, could potentially strengthen as it moves along the East Coast into a bomb cyclone, which occurs when the central pressure of a storm crashes by 0.71 of an inch or more within 24 hours, Accuweather.com reported. The storm has yet to form and won't until Friday, but still 'confidence is increasing that a significant winter storm will create considerable impacts Friday through the weekend from the Mid-Atlantic through the Northeast,' the Weather Prediction Center said on Tuesday. Snowfall is expected to reach the New York area between midnight Friday and 2 am Saturday, with wind gusts up to 45 mph, according to AccuWeather. The heaviest snowfall is expected farther up north in Boston and New England, which will be 'clobbered' with between 12 and 18 inches of snow Snowfall is expected to reach the New York area between midnight Friday and 2 am Saturday, with wind gusts up to 45 mph New York City could get anywhere between 8 and 12 inches of snow, and parts of eastern Long Island may see up to 18 inches before the 'quick-hitting' storm leaves the region. But forecasters remain cautious and said any small shift in the storm's track to the east or west could mean the difference between manageable snowfall or a blizzard in the Big Apple, Accuweather reported. Regardless, the heaviest snowfall is expected farther up north in Boston and New England, which will be 'clobbered' with between 12 and 18 inches of snow, Gilbert said. 'Boston is within the bull's-eye of some of the worst conditions expected, and into Maine,' meteorologist Mary Gilbert told the New York Post. 'They're going to have very strong winds as well, so travel is going to be very difficult.' 'Boston is within the bull's-eye of some of the worst conditions expected, and into Maine,' Gilbert said. 'They're going to have very strong winds as well, so travel is going to be very difficult' As of Wednesday forecasters are confident that southern New England will face the most significant impacts As of Wednesday, forecasters are confident that southern New England will face the most significant impacts. 'This is going to be an intensifying storm that will produce a lot of wind, which raises concerns for blowing and drifting snow, power outages and blizzard conditions in some areas,' AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said. 'There is also a serious coastal flooding and beach erosion threat, especially in eastern Massachusetts. The heavy snow will potentially hit the Interstate-95 corridor from Virginia to NYC, possibly effecting travel with the risk of accidents and traffic along the highway as well as potentially shutting down airports, including Boston Logan International Airport, or cancel air travel in New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. The last notable nor'easter to hit the Northeast came in October, and hammered New York City with powerful winds and heavy rains During the last nor'easter that hit the city in October more than 600,000 homes and businesses without power at one point 'It is becoming more likely that it will bring significant snow, sleet and freezing rain to the region, including the I-95 metropolitan areas,' the Weather Prediction Center added. Accuweather forecasters recommend avoiding travel across New England during the storm on Saturday and Sunday night as the storm is likely to maintain its intensity for about 8-12 hours. The last notable nor'easter to hit the Northeast came in October, and hammered the area with powerful winds and heavy rains that left more than 600,000 homes and businesses without power at one point, USA Today reported. New York City was slammed with torrential rain this past October leading to flood advisories being issued for much of the city, Long Island and Westchester County, with the Long Island and Connecticut shorelines put under a coastal flood advisory. The flooding led to New York Governor Kathy Hochul to declare a state of emergency. All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility