Nor’easter storm brings coastal flooding, as New York and New Jersey declare emergency

Powerful Nor’easter Disrupts Northeastern US With Flooding and Travel Chaos

Tens of millions of people across the northeastern United States are facing the impact of a powerful nor’easter this weekend, with coastal flooding, widespread power outages, travel disruptions and the cancellation of major public events already reported.

The storm is expected to reach its peak on Saturday. The US National Weather Service (NWS) warned that the system would bring dangerous coastal flooding, hazardous beach conditions, strong winds and heavy rainfall to areas including New York City and Boston.

States of emergency have been declared in New York and New Jersey. Several coastal communities in New Jersey have already experienced significant flooding, while heavy rain and strong winds are forecast to extend from Virginia to Maine.

The storm has also caused widespread electricity outages. Nearly 150,000 customers have reportedly lost power so far, according to PowerOutage.us.

Air travel has been heavily affected as well. The Federal Aviation Administration advised passengers to check directly with their airlines for the latest flight information. FlightAware reported that more than 1,100 flights had been delayed, while around 400 had been cancelled.

Full Moon Raises Flooding Concerns

The weekend’s full moon is expected to contribute to higher coastal water levels, increasing the risk of flooding in vulnerable areas. Streets and homes were already inundated in New Jersey coastal communities including Surf City and Manasquan.

The NWS urged residents in low-lying coastal areas to prepare for potentially significant flooding, warning that roads could become submerged and homes and businesses could be affected.

New York officials have also warned of wind gusts reaching approximately 55 mph (86 km/h). The strong winds could bring down trees and power lines, creating additional hazards.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel and warned people not to drive or walk through floodwater.

Major Events Cancelled

The severe weather has forced the cancellation or postponement of several major events across the region.

In the Boston area, the Boston Red Sox postponed their weekend series against the Chicago Cubs, moving Sunday’s game to next Friday.

A professional soccer match between New York Red Bulls and St. Louis City SC was also cancelled.

The Global Citizen Festival, scheduled to take place in New York’s Central Park with performances by Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean and John Legend, was called off because of the weather.

Ed Sheeran’s highly anticipated concert at Gillette Stadium near Boston was also cancelled for safety reasons, according to the venue.

Authorities continue to urge residents in affected coastal areas to monitor official weather warnings and avoid unnecessary travel as the storm reaches its strongest phase.