More than 70,000 customers in the north-eastern United States lost power on Saturday as a powerful nor’easter battered the region, creating hazardous conditions expected to persist throughout the weekend.
Forecasters warned of strong winds capable of uprooting trees and heavy rainfall that could cause flooding. Tens of millions of residents are in the storm’s path, which has already begun to lash the area with strong winds and rain. Dangerous flooding is anticipated along the mid-Atlantic coast, particularly in New Jersey and Delaware, as noted by the National Weather Service (NWS).
In Surf City, New Jersey, streets were flooded, and homes faced inundation. About 34 miles north in Manasquan, where roads were also submerged, Mayor Mike Mangan warned of prolonged flooding and had issued a voluntary evacuation for low-lying areas.
Concerts were cancelled, and dozens of flights were disrupted at airports in Boston, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard on Friday and Saturday, with airlines waiving change fees for affected passengers.
Mayor Brian Kelly of Sea Bright, a small beach community in New Jersey, warned of winds reaching 50 mph and floodwaters potentially rising to 6 feet on some streets. Officials expect the flooding to worsen by midday Saturday. “This will likely be close to an Irene-scale flooding event,” he said, referencing the devastating storm in 2011.
Kelly urged residents in vulnerable areas to consider evacuating and announced the opening of the town’s recreation centre for those displaced.
Peak wind gusts could reach 60-65 mph on Cape Cod and the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, with gusts around Boston reaching 50-55 mph. “The closer you are to the coast, the more impact you will feel from the storm,” said meteorologist Matthew Belk from the NWS.
While nor’easters are common in New England during the fall, Belk noted that the early timing this year is concerning due to still-green leaves on trees, which can increase the risk of downed branches and power outages.
Along the Atlantic coasts of New Jersey and Delaware, wind gusts might reach 60 mph, while they could be similarly strong in south-eastern Connecticut and eastern Long Island, New York.
Over 200 flights to and from airports in Boston, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, and New York were cancelled on Friday, with further cancellations expected on Saturday.
Additionally, the Boston Red Sox announced changes to their weekend series against the Chicago Cubs, moving their Sunday game to Friday. Ed Sheeran also cancelled his scheduled concerts at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, due to the storm.
