Coastal flooding and power outages hit New Jersey as nor'easter intensifies

Roads in several coastal New Jersey towns were inundated on Friday night as a powerful nor'easter began to affect the U.S. East Coast, leaving thousands without electricity. The National Weather Service warned of dangerous flooding along the Mid-Atlantic coast, especially in New Jersey and Delaware.

In Surf City, water covered streets and entered some homes, while Mayor Mike Mangan of Manasquan said the borough expected "a lot of water in the streets for a long time" after a voluntary evacuation was ordered for low-lying areas. Sea Bright mayor Brian Kelly said the town was preparing for winds up to 50 mph and flood depths of up to six feet, and urged residents in vulnerable zones to consider evacuating.

Meteorologist Matthew Belk of the National Weather Service noted that wind gusts could reach 60-65 mph on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, and 60 mph along the New Jersey and Delaware coasts, increasing the risk of downed trees and power lines. He added that early-season leaf cover could amplify wind damage.

The storm forced the cancellation of dozens of flights at Boston, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard and New York airports, and airlines offered limited fee waivers for affected travelers. Major events were also impacted: the Red Sox moved a Sunday game to Friday to create a split doubleheader, and Ed Sheeran’s concerts at Gillette Stadium were called off. Ferry services to the islands of Cape Cod, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard and Block Island were suspended, with the Woods Hole Steamship Authority describing the disruptions as routine for such weather.

Residents prepared for the weekend by securing property and arranging backup power. In Gloucester, Massachusetts, a mother described taking her children to the beach before staying home with supplies and a generator in case of outages.