Millions in US braced for high winds and flooding as Henri heads north-east

Waves pound the beaches of Montauk as the severe weather system approaches (Craig Ruttle/AP)

The storm lashing the northeastern US coastline has been downgraded from a hurricane but is still packing wind gusts of up to 75mph.

Millions of people on New York’s Long Island and in southern New England are braced for the possibility of flooding, toppled trees and extended power outages.