A rare storm for the season intensified on Saturday, September 26, above the northeast of the United States, showered by torrential rains and swept by powerful winds which cut electricity to tens of thousands of users and left one dead, according to American media.
The major cities of New York, Boston and Philadelphia are under threat from the “Nor’easter”, with risks of significant flooding and road closures. This phenomenon generally strikes between fall and early spring.
A family carries their belongings through a flooded street in Wildwood, New Jersey, September 26, 2026. Vincent Alban, Reuters
The storm is expected to move towards New Jersey and Long Island “tonight (Saturday to Sunday)”, and hit the region with “full force” Sunday morning, according to forecasters.
“Major coastal flooding is expected along the Mid-Atlantic coast during several high tide cycles following a full moon this weekend,” the National Weather Service said.
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul said the storm was moving toward coastal areas of New York City and Long Island in the evening.
“The conditions are extremely dangerous. Anyone who goes in or near the water this weekend would literally put their life on the line,” she warned during a press briefing. “We expect high waves of up to six meters in some areas.”
Waves crash against a rocky shore Friday, September 25, 2026, in Gloucester, Massachusetts. AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty – Robert F. Bukaty
“Don’t travel if you don’t have to,” insisted New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
In the Brooklyn neighborhood, a 56-year-old man was killed by a falling tree, according to American media.
And more than 60,000 users in the states of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania were without electricity at 6 p.m. local Saturday, according to the specialized site poweroutage.com.
Concerts canceled
The storm also caused the cancellation of hundreds of flights on Saturday, including 253 at Boston’s Logan Airport alone, according to the Flight Aware website.
A traveler checks a screen in a nearly deserted terminal at Boston’s Logan International Airport, September 26, 2026. CJ Gunther, Reuters
Major cultural events have also been canceled, including the Global Citizen and All Things Go festivals in New York, and Oceans Calling in Maryland.
“Safety must come first. This is the first time in 14 years that we have had to cancel,” announced the organizers of Global Citizen, which was to welcome artists Lenny Kravitz, Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys and even country stars Lainey Wilson and Shaboozey to Central Park.
Pop star Ed Sheeran’s concerts scheduled for this weekend near Boston will also not be able to take place due to the weather.
With AFP
