Tens of Thousands Without Power as Nor’easter Hits Mid-Atlantic
A powerful nor’easter is causing widespread disruptions in New Jersey and New York, leaving tens of thousands without electricity. The storm, which began its impacts on Friday evening, is expected to bring “dangerous” coastal flooding, along with strong winds and rip currents.
In anticipation of the storm, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill declared a State of Emergency for several counties, including Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Salem. She expressed concerns over the forecast, noting that the affected regions would face heavy rain and significant coastal flooding, urging residents to take the situation seriously and stay alert.
As of 10 a.m. ET, reports indicated that more than 37,000 customers in New Jersey were experiencing power outages, with Ocean County seeing over 7,000 of those. In neighboring states, around 28,000 outages were reported in New York, 15,000 in Connecticut, and over 5,000 in Massachusetts. Notably, Suffolk County in New York has been particularly hard-hit, with more than 11,000 outages logged.
Videos from the East Coast depict the storm’s severe conditions, especially in New Jersey. Storm Tracker Jaden Pappenheim shared an update from Surf City, stating that the west side was “almost completely crippled” with vehicles submerged.
The National Weather Service (NWS) predicts that the storm won’t weaken until Sunday night. Flooding is anticipated from northern New Jersey extending into southern New England. The NWS has warned of major coastal flooding across the Mid-Atlantic, especially during multiple high tide cycles over the weekend. They emphasized that significant inundation could occur in low-lying areas, with potential road closures and property damage expected.
Those in the storm’s path need to prepare for severe impacts, including large breaking waves leading to strong rip currents and beach erosion, which could affect areas all the way to the Carolinas through Monday.
