Multiday Nor'easter Brings Heavy Rain, Strong Winds and Flood Alerts to East Coast
A powerful nor'easter is expected to batter the Northeast with up to 65 mph gusts, several inches of rain and coastal flooding through the weekend, prompting alerts for millions and the cancellation of major events.
Coastal flood alerts have been issued for roughly 33 million people from Virginia to Rhode Island as a rare, multiday nor'easter moves northward along the Atlantic seaboard. Meteorologists forecast wind gusts of up to 65 mph, with the strongest sustained winds expected through Saturday night on Long Island and in New England. Heavy rain bands could deliver 4 to 6 inches of precipitation on Saturday and Sunday, while widespread 1 to 3-inch totals are likely from the I-95 corridor to the coast. Waves of 10 to 18 feet are projected, creating 1 to 4 feet of inundation in vulnerable shoreline areas.
The storm is set to intensify as onshore winds increase from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, to Cape Cod, Massachusetts on Friday, bringing rain from the Jersey Shore to eastern Massachusetts that is expected to persist all day Saturday. Saturday also poses the highest wind risk, with gusts that could reach 60 mph in coastal locations. Rain and beach erosion are likely to continue into Monday, albeit with weaker winds.
Travel delays and power outages are anticipated through Monday, with southeast New England facing the greatest outage risk due to strong winds and leaf-laden trees. "The waves, the wave actions, the way it comes in, it just takes everything in its path," said Mike Jones, emergency management director for Upper Township, New Jersey.
The severe forecast prompted the cancellation of several high-profile events. Global Citizen announced the cancellation of its annual festival in Central Park, noting that safety must come first and that this is the first cancellation in 14 years. All Things Go, scheduled at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, and Ed Sheeran’s concerts at Gillette Stadium in Boston were also called off.
Emergency crews across the region are trimming trees, staging sandbags and warning residents of potential flooding. A full moon on Saturday night is expected to raise tides by an additional 5 to 6 inches, further increasing flood risk.
Separately, Hurricane Nolo is tracking toward Hawaii’s Big Island as a Category 1 storm with 80-mph winds, with forecasts suggesting it could strengthen to a major hurricane later in the weekend. The islands are already experiencing heavy rain and preparations for possible flooding and mudslides.