Severe Nor'easter Batters Northeastern US with Major Flooding, Power Failures, and Flight Cancellations

Residents of the northeastern United States are facing a powerful storm known as a nor’easter that has knocked out power and caused flooding across the region. A family carrying personal belongings was seen walking on a flooded street after heavy rain from the storm in Wildwood, New Jersey, on September 26, 2026.

The severe weather has led to the cancellation of more than 400 flights and power outages affecting more than 88,000 homes and businesses as of Saturday afternoon local time, though that figure is down from a high of 119,000 earlier in the day.

Bob Oravec, lead forecaster with the National Weather Service in College Park, Maryland, warned that the storm is likely to persist with high winds, high tides, and heavy rain over the coming days in the northeastern US.

Governors in New York and New Jersey declared states of emergency in counties expected to experience the worst of the weather, including New York City, on Friday. Large puddles and debris were left lining walkways in the Dumbo neighbourhood in Brooklyn as the nor'easter moved through on September 26, 2026.

Authorities have strongly warned residents about risks from flooding and high tides, cautioning people to stay away from beaches and inundated areas. New York Governor Kathy Hochul stated that anyone going near the water this weekend is gambling with their life. Despite these warnings, some individuals were spotted kayaking down flooded streets in Long Island, New York, while others took advantage of large swells in Hampton, New Hampshire.

Jay Boyd, a resident of Ocean City, Maryland, told The Associated Press news agency that water levels are very high in all the canals and are spilling into backyards.

Bob Oravec noted that while nor’easters are common as New England enters the autumn season, this system has arrived a bit earlier than average for such a major storm. Meanwhile, a surfer was seen catching a wave as the system battered the coast in Rockaway, New Jersey, on September 26, 2026.

Data from FlightAware shows about 425 flights cancelled and 1,338 delayed on Saturday. Numerous concerts and sporting events were also scrapped, including scheduled performances by musician Ed Sheeran in Massachusetts on Friday and Saturday.