Almost 1.7million homes and businesses were without power in the Northeast and Midwest.
Government offices in the US capital were also closed as winds reached to more than 60 mph (96 kph) in Washington.
In Boston, an extreme high tide sent seawaters onto the streets for the second time this year.
Winds approaching 70 mph (113 kph) helped force down trees and power lines.
The high water retreated in the afternoon, but the National Weather Service said Boston could face renewed flooding.
Officials said that the high tide could come close to reaching a record level due to the combination of high winds and waves.
Jim Hayes, a meteorologist with the agency’s Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland: ”That one still looks like it’s going to be on target for at least moderate coastal flooding, which means we’re going to see some problems in Boston.
Police in Quincy, Massachusetts, were rescuing people from flooded homes.
State emergency officials also urged residents of coastal areas to seek higher ground.
Heavy rains and damaging winds also led to the cancellation of more than 2,600 US flights.
Dulles International Airport briefly evacuated a control tower due to the dangerous conditions.
Officials told Boston’s coastal communities to be prepared to evacuate.
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency on Friday afternoon in order to marshal resources and “appropriate preparedness, response, and recovery measures”, according to a statement.
Snow and rain are forecast to slow into Saturday as skies clear, Mr Hayes said.
He added that the winds are also expected to drop overnight and into Saturday as the offshore storm system retreats.
At least one person was killed.
A 77-year-old woman was struck by a falling tree branch outside her home near Kingsville, Maryland, according to a spokesman from the Baltimore County Fire Department.
The emergency services in Washington also pulled a man with life-threatening injuries from a car that was hit by a falling tree.