A strong nor’easter impacted the U.S. East Coast, continuing from its weekend arrival with heavy rain, strong winds, and dangerous waves affecting several states. Areas in New York and New Jersey experienced severe flooding, leading residents to use kayaks and canoes to navigate their neighborhoods as parked cars became submerged in water.

Meteorologists maintained flood warnings across large coastal stretches, cautioning that some communities might still face severe storm impacts. One casualty occurred in Brooklyn, New York, where a 56-year-old New York City Housing Department employee, Leighton Brown, was killed by a falling tree. Additionally, New York State Police searched for a missing person last seen swimming at Fire Island beach.

Power outages affected tens of thousands in the Northeast, with over 40,000 in New York and about 30,000 in Connecticut, as reported by PowerOutage.us.

Storm Forecast and Emergency Declarations

Conditions were expected to worsen on Sunday as the storm moved from its offshore position to directly over New Jersey. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill declared states of emergency for regions facing significant effects from the nor’easter.

The National Weather Service forecasted ongoing rain in mid-Atlantic and northeastern states through Monday night, with additional flooding possible. Beachgoers from the Carolinas northward faced risks from rough surf and rip currents, while wind gusts could reach 50 mph from New Jersey to Long Island.

The weather service warned of structural impacts, predicting the storm’s swirling winds could down more power lines and trees, and excessive rainfall might cause flooding further inland. Urban areas, roads, small streams, and narrow canyons were at high risk.

Before the storm, the weather service advised for major coastal damage preparedness, anticipating “repeated rounds of flooding” through the weekend, especially near high tide.

Reported Incidents and Wind Speeds

Numerous flooding and wind incidents occurred from North Carolina to New York, with winds recorded at up to 75 mph in Surf City, New Jersey, and Astoria, Pennsylvania, similar to a low-grade hurricane. The storm’s effects were significant, with caution urged for continued preparedness as conditions evolved.