A fierce nor’easter storm struck the East Coast, affecting millions from the mid-Atlantic to Maine. Early Saturday saw thousands without electricity and hundreds of flights canceled as high winds lashed the region. The National Weather Service warned of coastal flooding, heavy rain, and strong gusts over the weekend from this unusual September nor’easter.
Nearly 100,000 were left without power in states like New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts by late Saturday morning. The storm is expected to gain strength and move slowly northward, impacting the area further.
Coastal New Jersey experienced turbulent seas and severe flooding. Manasquan’s mayor, Michael Mangan, declared a state of emergency, urging residents to stock up on water and food, as flooding could render roads impassable. States of emergency were declared in parts of New Jersey and New York, including New York City.
Social media shared images of inundated streets in New Jersey and massive waves. In New York City, some people were kayaking through streets drenched by floodwaters.
Meteorologist Francis Tarasiewicz of the National Weather Service in Boston noted that coastal wind speeds could reach 60 mph. Despite traditionally hitting from October to May, this nor’easter started earlier and could last longer, with strong winds persisting for about 48 hours across the region.
The persistent winds pose risks to full, leafy trees, heightening the potential for power outages, especially in southern Rhode Island, eastern Massachusetts, and the Cape and Islands area.
Weather conditions led to hundreds of flight cancellations and delays, disrupted ferry services on Cape Cod and in Rhode Island, and caused Amtrak to halt several train services. The weather also forced the cancellation of events including Maryland’s Oceans Calling music festival and an Ed Sheeran concert at Gillette Stadium.
Forecasts suggest the storm will move northeast across Cape Cod by Monday night, with the effects easing by Wednesday night. Nor’easters are named for the northeast winds they bring, typically occurring in fall and winter.
While the East Coast braces against the nor’easter, Hawaii faces another threat as Hurricane Polo advances towards the Baja California peninsula, with the state remaining under a hurricane watch. These storms form part of a super El Niño climate pattern affecting this year’s weather.