Nor’easter Wallops East Coast: Flooding, Power Outages Hit Millions

A powerful nor’easter is slamming the U.S. East Coast, bringing widespread power outages and significant flooding. Roads are already underwater in parts of New Jersey, and officials warn conditions will worsen through the weekend. This isn’t your average fall storm. Millions are in its path. On Friday night, thousands were already without power. Coastal New Jersey communities saw the first major signs of trouble. You’ve got water, waves even, rippling through streets in places like Surf City, inundating some homes. About 34 miles up the coast in Manasquan, Mayor Mike Mangan isn’t sugarcoating it. He expects “a lot of water in the streets for a long time.” Some low-lying areas there even got a voluntary evacuation order earlier.

Storm Brews Along the Coast

This system is just getting started, but it’s already lashing the region with strong winds and rain. The National Weather Service warns of dangerous flooding, especially near New Jersey and Delaware. It’s going to be a rough ride. Brian Kelly, the mayor of Sea Bright, New Jersey, is bracing for serious impacts. He’s looking at winds up to 50 mph and flooding that could hit 6 feet on some streets. The worst of the flooding? Expect it to start Saturday and peak by midday. Kelly put it bluntly: “It’s going to be worse than average. We do have probably one or two flooding events a year, sometimes more, sometimes less. But I think this one will be closer to an Irene-scale flooding event.” He’s talking about the 2011 storm that caused major flooding across the Northeast. “I hope I’m wrong, but that’s my gut feeling.” He hopes hundreds in low-lying areas will evacuate; the town’s recreation center is open for them. Peak wind gusts could hit 60 to 65 mph on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket tonight and Saturday. Boston’s looking at 50 to 55 mph, while inland areas might see 35 to 40 mph. Matthew Belk, a meteorologist with NWS in Norton, Massachusetts, confirmed it: “It’s definitely going to be a case of the closer to the coast you are, the more impacts from the storm you’re likely to see.”

Nor’easters aren’t unusual this time of year, but here’s the thing: leaves are still on the trees. That means more wind resistance, more downed limbs, more power outages, and more debris on roads. So, not great. And it’s not just New Jersey. Along the Atlantic coasts of New Jersey and Delaware, wind gusts could reach 60 mph. Southeastern Connecticut and eastern Long Island, New York, could see similar gusts, threatening tree limbs and power lines. Air travel is a mess. More than 200 flights to and from Boston, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, and New York airports were canceled Friday, with more Saturday cancellations already in place. Concerts are off too. Ed Sheeran scrapped his Friday and Saturday shows at Gillette Stadium. Even the Red Sox adjusted their weekend series against the Chicago Cubs, moving Sunday’s game to Friday for a split doubleheader. Ferry services connecting Cape Cod with Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard saw widespread cancellations Friday due to strong winds and choppy water. Block Island ferries in Rhode Island also canceled. This disruption will spill into Saturday. Sean Driscoll, a spokesperson for the Steamship Authority, knows the drill. Getting stuck on an island? “Part of life” for regulars. Most folks have backup plans. “It’s a nuisance, but you know, we know what to do with this kind of stuff at this point,” he said. “This isn’t out of the realm of ordinary.”

Up in Gloucester, Massachusetts, Ashley Destino took her kids to the beach Friday afternoon. They knew they’d be stuck inside all weekend. She’s got Legos and arts and crafts ready for her 7- and 4-year-olds. Her boat’s got extra lines, and her husband pulled out the generator. They’re ready for whatever comes their way.