Nor'easter Triggers Flooding, Power Outages and Flight Delays
Millions along the Eastern Seaboard remain under coastal flood warnings as forecasters say conditions could last into Monday.
A strong nor'easter swept across the Eastern Seaboard on Saturday, causing devastating flooding, power outages, and severe flight delays. Millions of residents along the coast remained under flood warnings, anticipating more rain, high tides, and damaging winds throughout the week. Evacuations were mandatory in some areas, while tens of thousands of people lost power. The storm lingered near New Jersey before moving northeast, prolonging the threat of flooding and travel disruptions.
Nor'easters are coastal storms that typically blow from the northeast, bringing heavy rain or snow, gale-force winds, rough seas, and occasional flooding. Last February, a powerful nor'easter dumped nearly 38 inches of snow on the Northeast, including in Rhode Island. This storm brought record-setting snowfall but also had the most immediate impact on coastal communities.
On Saturday, water inundated roads and flooded neighborhoods in the Jersey Shore, including Edgewater, New Jersey, where emergency crews rescued roughly 20 people from a waterside hotel. Flooding also spread to parts of Queens, New York, and low-lying areas of Hamilton Beach near John F. Kennedy International Airport. The borough of Manasquan advised voluntary evacuations in vulnerable sections, while emergency access became increasingly difficult as waters continued to rise.
Strong winds, exceeding 50 mph in some locations, posed a significant hazard beyond the coastline. In Ocean City, Maryland, heavy surf caused beach erosion, washed out dune fencing, and led to flooding. Throughout the region, power outages mounted, with over 91,000 customers without electricity. Utilities warned that high winds could slow restoration efforts, making it difficult for crews to repair damaged equipment and downed lines.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul warned that outages could persist, as winds exceeding 60 mph continued to affect Long Island and other coastal communities. As the nor'easter brought significant disruptions to air travel, particularly in New England, Boston Logan International Airport saw over 250 cancellations, representing roughly a quarter of its scheduled traffic.
Other smaller airports in Massachusetts faced even greater challenges, with cancellation rates exceeding 70 percent at Nantucket Memorial Airport and Martha's Vineyard Airport.
While some major Northeastern airports avoided widespread cancellations, hundreds of delays still occurred. Flights were grounded due to changing weather conditions, and federal aviation officials warned of potential delays and restrictions as the storm progressed. In addition to aviation, Amtrak canceled several routes, and rail service between portions of Connecticut and Massachusetts was suspended.
Travel agencies arranged alternate bus services to maintain limited connectivity across the region. Forecasters predicted an additional two to six inches of rainfall across the Northeast, exacerbating the ongoing flooding and travel disruptions.
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