Nor’easter Hits Mid-Atlantic and New England; Hurricane Nolo Advances on Hawaii

A fierce nor’easter struck the East Coast early Saturday, causing widespread disruption. Hundreds of flights were cancelled and thousands faced power outages. The storm’s path stretches from the mid-Atlantic to Maine.

The National Weather Service forecasts coastal flooding, heavy rain, and strong winds throughout the weekend due to this unusual September nor’easter. As of late Saturday morning, nearly 100,000 people across New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts were without electricity. The storm is predicted to gain strength and travel slowly northward.

Coastal New Jersey experiences turbulent waves and significant flooding. Michael Mangan, Manasquan, New Jersey’s mayor, declared a state of emergency, advising residents to stock water and food supplies. He warned, “Many of our coastal roads might become impassable due to flooding as this tide surges on shore.” In addition to New Jersey, New York also declared emergencies in several counties, including New York City.

Social media posts depict streets submerged in New Jersey and enormous waves battering the coast. In New York City, people resorted to kayaking on flooded streets. The National Weather Service’s meteorologist Francis Tarasiewicz predicts coastal winds could gust up to 60 mph. This nor’easter arrives earlier than typical, lasting longer than usual.

“Typically, nor’easters last about a day,” Tarasiewicz explained. “This storm involves sustained winds of 35 to 40 mph over two days.” The storm’s impact on trees, with their leaves still intact, could exacerbate power outages, especially in southern Rhode Island, eastern Massachusetts, and the Cape and Islands.

FlightAware data show hundreds of Saturday morning flights cancelled and thousands delayed. Ferry operations on Cape Cod and in Rhode Island suffered disruptions. Amtrak suspended several trains after wires took damage.

The nor’easter forced the cancellation of various weekend events including Oceans Calling, Maryland’s largest music festival. The Red Sox postponed their games with the Chicago Cubs, and Ed Sheeran cancelled his performance at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

The storm is set to move northeast over Cape Cod early next week, dissipating by Wednesday night. Characteristic nor’easters are named after the prevailing northeast winds. They typically occur during fall and winter months.

While the nor’easter wreaks havoc on the East Coast, Hawaii braces under a hurricane watch as Hurricane Polo approaches Baja California. These storms arise amid a super El Niño climate pattern impacting the environment this year.