Strong nor’easter leads to coastal flooding and power outages across northeastern U.S.
BOSTON —
On Saturday, a slow-moving and intense nor’easter battered the northeastern United States, bringing with it strong winds that left thousands without power. Accompanied by heavy rain and large waves, the storm created hazardous conditions across various areas.
Video available: Residents in Virginia report flooding that has stranded vehicles
The storm impacted tens of millions, with forecasts indicating that its effects would linger throughout the weekend across both the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions. By Saturday, approximately 100,000 customers in the area were experiencing power outages.
Forecasters predict no immediate respite as Bob Oravec, the lead forecaster at the National Weather Service in College Park, Maryland, stated that the region should expect “strong winds, high tides, and heavy rainfall in the upcoming days.”
In Surf City, New Jersey, a borough along the coast, streets were submerged, and numerous homes faced flooding.
Kenny Formica, owner of Surf City Marina on the Jersey Shore, found himself anxiously monitoring the rising waters via surveillance cameras from home.
Formica noted that it is uncommon for water to infiltrate his building. He recalled the last time it happened was during Hurricane Sandy, which inflicted over $4 million in damages to his marina.
Robert F. Bukaty
Surfers tackle waves intensified by the nor’easter storm on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Hampton, N.H.
As the storm approached, Formica’s team took precautions by securing dock lines, removing loose items and equipment, and parking the marina’s vehicles at the highest points on the premises. However, by Saturday morning, water had almost entirely surrounded even these elevated areas.
By Saturday morning, Formica had received alarming messages from customers reporting missing boats and Jet Skis. One customer sent him footage around 4 a.m. showing a 25-foot boat that had been blown off its lift.
“This is an 8,000-pound boat, valued at about $150,000—and now it’s just gone,” Formica lamented.
In Edgewater, New Jersey, adjacent to the Hudson River, significant flooding occurred in a parking lot filled with vehicles. Videos shared on social media depicted a car nearly submerged, with only its sunroof visible, as people scrambled to relocate other cars to safer ground.
Storm disrupts travel and events
The storm caused widespread changes in plans for many. At Boston Logan International Airport, hundreds of flights were canceled, as well as nearly all flights at the favored Massachusetts tourist locales of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
The Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs, both in the midst of playoff preparations during the last weekend of the regular MLB season, adjusted their schedules to avoid the storm. They managed to play a double-header on Friday in Boston, and subsequently, the finale was rescheduled to take place in Florida at the Tampa Bay Rays’ home stadium.
Additionally, Ed Sheeran postponed his high-profile concerts scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Further south, a highway closure on Hatteras Island in North Carolina disrupted wedding plans for Jayden Sink and Kimberly Laprad. The Virginia couple had reached the island before the storm, but most of their approximately 45 guests found themselves stranded due to the road closures. Fortunately, a local campground stepped in by offering to host the ceremony, providing cabins and an officiant, while a DJ volunteered to perform at the celebration. Organizers invited anyone present on the island to join the couple for the festivities Saturday afternoon.
Officials advise residents to exercise caution
Nor’easters are common as New England transitions to fall, but this particular storm has arrived surprisingly early in the season.
Officials along the East Coast have urged residents to remain vigilant. Governor Matt Meyer of Delaware leveraged social media on Saturday to encourage people to monitor weather updates closely.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul warned that coastal flooding posed the greatest risk, with the storm also bringing heavy rainfall, strong winds, and potential waves as high as 20 feet (about six meters).
“Rain has already started, and while we’ve seen only half an inch so far, expect much more to come,” the governor stated early on Saturday.
Lieb contributed to this report from Jefferson City, Missouri, with additional reporting by Associated Press writer Kim Chandler in Montgomery, Alabama.
