Winter storm watches have been issued for the mid-Atlantic and parts of New England ahead of a powerful combination of heavy snow and strong winds over the weekend that could lead to power outages and coastal flooding in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and possibly Connecticut. “A winter storm is likely to create significant impacts across New England Friday night through Sunday,” the National Weather Service said Thursday. “Notable impacts may also extend south along the East Coast through North Carolina.” “While uncertainty continues with the track and intensity of this system, it is becoming more likely that it will bring significant snow, sleet, and freezing rain to the region, including the I-95 metropolitan areas,” NWS said. The weather service also warned that the storm could create hazardous travel conditions due to the combination of heavy snow, sleet, freezing rain, and wind. Meanwhile, areas close to the Atlantic coastline are set to experience strong winds and high tides …