A potent nor’easter has swept through the northeastern United States, causing significant flooding and leaving more than 88,000 residences and businesses without electricity as of Saturday afternoon. The number of affected customers has decreased from a peak of 119,000 earlier in the day.
In response to the impending threat, governors of New York and New Jersey declared states of emergency on Friday for counties anticipated to endure the harshest conditions, including New York City. Authorities have issued strict warnings regarding flood risks and high tides, advising the public to avoid beaches and flooded zones.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul emphasized the severity of the danger, stating that entering or lingering near the water over the weekend is akin to “gambling with their life.” Despite these cautions, reports indicate that some individuals, including kayakers in Long Island and surfers in Hampton, New Hampshire, were seen interacting with the rising waters.
Bob Oravec, a lead forecaster with the National Weather Service in College Park, Maryland, noted that while nor’easters are common as New England transitions into autumn, this system arrived earlier than usual. He predicted that the storm would persist, bringing sustained high winds, elevated tides, and heavy rain to the region over the coming days.
The disruption has heavily impacted travel and entertainment. FlightAware data shows that approximately 425 flights have been cancelled and 1,338 delayed on Saturday. Additionally, several concerts and sporting events have been called off, including scheduled performances by Ed Sheeran in Massachusetts.
Residents such as Jay Boyd from Ocean City, Maryland, described the impact on local neighborhoods, telling the Associated Press that canal waters had risen significantly and were flowing into backyards. Visuals from Brooklyn’s Dumbo neighborhood showed debris and puddles lining walkways as the storm moved through the area on September 26, 2026.
Ed Sheeran cancelled too? My weekend just vanished. Hope everyone stays safe and off the beaches.
Glad the outage numbers are dropping, but please listen to Governor Hochul. That water is deadly, not a playground.