Local travellers are set to feel the effect of severe winter

weather in the United States up until the weekend as blizzards batter the east coast of the country.

As winter storm Grayson headed north last night,

major airlines waived charges for customers changing their travel plans over today and tomorrow to cities in the Northeast.

The offshore storm was expected to dump more than a foot of snow around Boston today, and six inches across the New York region.

Grayson also brought hurricane-force gusts of wind and high seas.

Gale force winds were expected to hit Bermuda last night.

The Bermuda Weather Service predicted poor weather conditions on the island to ease later today as the severe weather heads north.