Nor'easter stalls off Long Island, bringing heavy rain, strong winds and coastal flooding to New York and New Jersey

A nor'easter that has stalled just off Long Island is generating sustained onshore winds, heavy rain bands and high tides, creating a risk of coastal inundation, surf hazards and beach erosion through Sunday. New York City Emergency Management, coordinating with the National Weather Service, warned that more than 44,000 customers have lost power and urged residents to prepare for conditions lasting from Saturday night to late Sunday morning.

So far the storm has produced between half an inch and an inch of rain across the five boroughs, with wind gusts of 45 mph citywide and up to 55 mph at JFK Airport. NYC Parks reported over 640 requests for tree removal, mainly in Queens and Brooklyn, while Jamaica Bay reached major flood levels during the morning high tide.

Forecasts call for the heaviest rain to begin around 8 p.m. Saturday, with localized downpours of up to one inch per hour and total accumulations of two to three inches through early Sunday. Wind gusts of 45-55 mph are expected to continue, with isolated gusts up to 60 mph along the coast, potentially causing additional tree damage and power outages. Coastal flooding could reach up to 3.5 feet above ground in vulnerable areas of Queens, Nassau and southwestern Suffolk counties, with moderate to major flooding projected for the South Shore and parts of the Bronx and northern Queens.

Power crews have restored service to more than 23,000 customers on Long Island, but tens of thousands remain without electricity across the tri-state area. Officials advised residents to avoid travel on roads near waterfronts, move vehicles from low-lying areas, relocate from flooded basements, stay out of the water, and keep clear of downed power lines. City beaches are closed to swimming due to active rip currents.

Along the New Jersey and Delaware coasts, offshore waves of 15-18 feet are expected to cause severe beach erosion and coastal flooding, with minor to major inundation along the Jersey Shore and Delaware Bay. Coastal Flood Warnings and Advisories remain in effect through Sunday. In contrast, the Washington, D.C. metro area is expected to stay mostly dry, with only occasional light showers and breezy conditions.