A powerful offshore nor'easter is battering the US East Coast from the Carolinas to New England, bringing high winds, dangerous coastal flooding and widespread travel disruption through the weekend and into next week.
More than 30 million coastal residents were under wind advisories on Saturday, September 26, and a similar number faced coastal flooding advisories or warnings, according to the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center. Forecasters warned of widespread major coastal flooding around Saturday's high tides, and the governors of New York and New Jersey declared states of emergency.
Compounding tides
The slow-moving storm is arriving as monthly tides peak during the full moon — one that coincides with the equinox, when tides are naturally at their highest in so-called king tides. Onshore winds are pushing water higher, piling it into streams and waterways and preventing drainage, while heavy rain upstream adds to the flood risk.
Moderate to major flooding is forecast at more than 40 gauges between North Carolina and Long Island. The storm will persist through three high-tide cycles, and with nowhere for the water to go, each tide could run higher than the last, the Weather Prediction Center's Brian Hurley said.
The storm's waves and high tides reached North Carolina's Outer Banks on September 24, washing out a section of the coastal highway, before flooding spread to Virginia on September 25 and the New Jersey coast on the morning of September 26. AccuWeather warned of gusts up to 80 mph along northern Long Island and into Cape Cod, with 4 to 8 inches of rain forecast between Long Island and Boston. Saturated soils are making trees more susceptible to toppling.
Power outages and travel chaos
More than 70,000 customers in New York, Connecticut and New Jersey were without power on Saturday afternoon, according to PowerOutage.com, with tens of thousands more affected in neighbouring states.
Air travel took a heavy hit: about 425 flights involving US airports were cancelled and 1,338 delayed by Saturday afternoon, according to Reuters. The Federal Aviation Administration warned that flights at all three major New York City-area airports could be disrupted by strong winds, and several airlines waived change fees.
The storm also upended the sports and entertainment calendar: Saturday's MLB game between the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox was moved to Sunday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, and shows featuring Ed Sheeran, Alicia Keys and Lenny Kravitz were cancelled.
Sources:
Powerful nor'easter brings wind, rain, dangerous flooding to East Coast — USA Today
Monster Nor'easter slams coast with 20ft waves & 80mph winds — The Sun
More than 30 million coastal residents were under wind advisories on Saturday, September 26, and a similar number faced coastal flooding advisories or warnings, according to the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center. Forecasters warned of widespread major coastal flooding around Saturday's high tides, and the governors of New York and New Jersey declared states of emergency.
Compounding tides
The slow-moving storm is arriving as monthly tides peak during the full moon — one that coincides with the equinox, when tides are naturally at their highest in so-called king tides. Onshore winds are pushing water higher, piling it into streams and waterways and preventing drainage, while heavy rain upstream adds to the flood risk.
Moderate to major flooding is forecast at more than 40 gauges between North Carolina and Long Island. The storm will persist through three high-tide cycles, and with nowhere for the water to go, each tide could run higher than the last, the Weather Prediction Center's Brian Hurley said.
The storm's waves and high tides reached North Carolina's Outer Banks on September 24, washing out a section of the coastal highway, before flooding spread to Virginia on September 25 and the New Jersey coast on the morning of September 26. AccuWeather warned of gusts up to 80 mph along northern Long Island and into Cape Cod, with 4 to 8 inches of rain forecast between Long Island and Boston. Saturated soils are making trees more susceptible to toppling.
Power outages and travel chaos
More than 70,000 customers in New York, Connecticut and New Jersey were without power on Saturday afternoon, according to PowerOutage.com, with tens of thousands more affected in neighbouring states.
Air travel took a heavy hit: about 425 flights involving US airports were cancelled and 1,338 delayed by Saturday afternoon, according to Reuters. The Federal Aviation Administration warned that flights at all three major New York City-area airports could be disrupted by strong winds, and several airlines waived change fees.
The storm also upended the sports and entertainment calendar: Saturday's MLB game between the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox was moved to Sunday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, and shows featuring Ed Sheeran, Alicia Keys and Lenny Kravitz were cancelled.
Sources:
Powerful nor'easter brings wind, rain, dangerous flooding to East Coast — USA Today
Monster Nor'easter slams coast with 20ft waves & 80mph winds — The Sun
