Early-season nor'easter brings strong winds and heavy rain to New England
A significant nor'easter is battering the New England coast with winds up to 80 mph and rain that could total eight inches, affecting up to 40 million people across several states.
High winds and heavy rain began battering New England on Friday as an early-season nor'easter moved ashore, prompting warnings from the National Weather Service and meteorologists. The storm is affecting coastal areas of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Long Island, with rain expected to continue through Monday.
"Strong winds and rough seas along with a prolonged period of steady rain across the region are expected through this weekend," the Boston office of the National Weather Service posted on X, adding that beach erosion, coastal flooding and power outages are the main concerns.
AccuWeather forecasts wind speeds of 40-60 mph along the coast from New Jersey to Maine, with gusts up to 80 mph near Montauk, New York. "The nor'easter has strengthened over the Atlantic and is expected to stay closer to the shoreline, bringing more rain inland and stronger winds near the shore," meteorologist Elizabeth Danco said.
Rainfall could reach eight inches in southeastern Massachusetts and two inches in Boston and New York City, prompting high wind warnings and travel disruptions, including flight cancellations and hazardous driving conditions. The Weather Channel advised residents of Boston and New York City to treat the storm like a tropical system.
The same period sees three Pacific hurricanes—Nolo, Odalys and Polo—intensifying, with Nolo expected to bring five days of torrential rain and flooding to Hawaii, while Polo, a Category 5 hurricane offshore Mexico, poses a threat of dangerous surf and coastal flooding.