Tens of thousands of homes lost power, streets flooded, and events cancelled as a nor’easter battered parts of the north-eastern US on Saturday. The storm brought heavy rain, strong winds, and coastal flooding to New York, New Jersey, and beyond, prompting states of emergency and travel disruptions.
In New Jersey, floodwater covered roads and homes in Surf City and Manasquan. Governor Mikie Sherrill urged residents to take the storm seriously and follow local advice. “I urge all New Jerseyans to take this storm seriously, stay alert and follow local guidance,” she said. The state faced coastal deluge as the full moon worsened the flooding.
New York City saw wind gusts reaching up to 55mph (86km/h), causing downed trees and power lines. One man died in Brooklyn after a tree fell on him, according to CBS News. Mayor Zohran Mamdani told people not to travel unless necessary and warned against driving or walking through floodwater. “Don’t travel if you don’t have to,” he said. “Do not drive or walk through floodwater.”
Over 100,000 households in the northeast lost electricity, according to PowerOutage, a tracker monitoring the situation. The Federal Aviation Administration advised travellers to check flight statuses as more than 2,400 flights were delayed and 1,199 cancelled, per FlightAware.
The storm disrupted major events. The Boston Red Sox postponed their final game against the Chicago Cubs, moving it to Sunday afternoon in Florida. A professional football match between Red Bull New York and St Louis City SC was cancelled.
Music events also suffered cancellations. The Global Citizen Festival in New York’s Central Park, which was set to feature Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, and John Legend, was called off. Ed Sheeran’s concert at Gillette Stadium near Boston was cancelled for safety reasons, according to the venue.
The US National Weather Service warned of “dangerous coastal flooding and beach conditions, strong winds and heavy rainfall” extending from Virginia to Maine. It urged immediate preparation for flooding in low-lying coastal areas, including submerged roads and damage to homes and businesses.
The nor’easter’s effects stretched far beyond New York and New Jersey, hitting cities like Boston with heavy rain and wind. The full moon’s tidal influence added to the storm surge, exacerbating flooding in coastal communities.
Authorities across the region remained on high alert as the storm moved along the coast. Travel chaos continued with many flights grounded, and power outages affecting tens of thousands. Officials kept warning residents to stay indoors and heed local safety instructions.
The storm’s impact on public life was evident in the cancellations and delays across sports and music. Fans and travellers faced disruptions as the nor’easter put safety first amid worsening weather.
According to Joy Online.
