Thousands were without power on the East Coast Friday night into Saturday morning as roads flooded in some coastal New Jersey communities, the first major signs of a powerful nor'easter expected to create dangerous conditions through the weekend. Tens of millions of people are in the path of the storm already beginning to lash the region with strong winds and rain as it braces for much more. The AP reports that dangerous flooding is expected along the mid-Atlantic coast, particularly near New Jersey and Delaware, per the National Weather Service.
In the coastal New Jersey borough of Surf City, water flooded the streets, inundating some homes. Brian Kelly, the mayor of the Jersey beach community of Sea Bright, said the borough is bracing for winds up to 50mph and flooding that could reach up to 6 feet on some streets. Officials expect the flooding to start Saturday and worsen by midday. "It's going to be worse than average," Kelly said. "I hope I'm wrong, but that's my gut feeling." Kelly hopes hundreds of residents living in low-lying areas will consider evacuating, adding that the town will open its recreation center for evacuees.
Peak wind gusts could approach 65mph on Massachusetts' Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket into Saturday, compared with up to 55mph around Boston and up to 40mph farther inland, per NWS meteorologist Matthew Belk. He said nor'easters aren't unusual as New England moves into fall, but one concern this early in the season is that leaves remain on the trees, creating more wind resistance. That could increase the risk of downed limbs, which in turn can cause power outages and leave debris in roads, he said.
Along the Atlantic coasts of New Jersey and Delaware, wind gusts could reach 60mph, according to the NWS. In southeastern Connecticut and on eastern Long Island, New York, gusts could get almost as high, potentially downing tree limbs and power lines. More than 200 flights to and from airports in Boston, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and New York had been canceled Friday, with more cancellations in place for Saturday. Meanwhile, the Red Sox announced that their weekend series against the Chicago Cubs would be adjusted, moving the Sunday afternoon game to Friday to create a split doubleheader. Separately, Ed Sheeran announced that his high-profile Friday and Saturday shows at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, would be canceled due to the storm. More here.
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