The first images came from New Jersey . Waves crashed into homes, flooded roads and left thousands without power on the US East Coast on Friday night. They were the first serious signs of a powerful nor’easter storm, which is expected to cause dangerous conditions throughout the weekend.
Tens of millions of people are in the path of the storm, which has already begun to batter the region with strong winds and rainfall, with much more expected. According to the National Weather Service , dangerous flooding is expected along the Mid-Atlantic coast, especially in New Jersey and Delaware .
In the coastal community of Surf City, New Jersey, waves flooded streets and invaded homes. About 34 miles (55 kilometers) north, in the community of Manasquan , Mayor Mike Mangan said he expected “a lot of water on the streets for a long period of time,” and earlier a voluntary evacuation advisory had been issued for some low-lying areas.
Particularly worrisome is the assessment of Sea Bright Mayor Brian Kelly . The area is preparing for winds of up to 80 kilometers per hour and flooding that in some streets could reach 1.8 meters . “It will be worse than usual. We probably have one or two flooding incidents a year, but I think this storm will cause flooding comparable to that of Hurricane Irene ,” he said, referring to the 2011 storm. “I hope I’m wrong, but that’s my feeling.” The city will open its recreation center to accommodate those who are displaced from their homes.
In New England , the main problem is wind. Maximum gusts could reach 60 to 65 miles per hour (97 to 105 kilometers per hour) on Cape Cod , Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket , compared to 50 to 55 miles per hour (80 to 89 kilometers per hour) around Boston and 35 to 45 miles per hour (56 to 64 kilometers per hour) further inland, according to meteorologist Matthew Belk . “The closer you are to the coast, the more severe the impact is likely to be,” he said.
He focused on an often underestimated parameter. Nor’easters are not uncommon as New England enters fall, but at this time of year the leaves are still on the trees , increasing wind resistance. This multiplies the risk of branches snapping, resulting in power outages and debris on the roads.
Along the Atlantic coast in New Jersey and Delaware, gusts could reach 60 miles per hour , while similar levels are expected in southeastern Connecticut and eastern Long Island , with possible downed branches and power lines.
The impact on daily life is already widespread. More than 200 flights to and from airports in Boston, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard and New York were canceled on Friday, with more cancellations announced for Saturday. Several airlines have offered to waive change or cancellation fees for passengers.
In sports, the Red Sox have rescheduled their series with the Chicago Cubs , moving Sunday’s game to Friday to make it a doubleheader. In culture, Ed Sheeran has announced the cancellation of his Friday and Saturday concerts at Gillette Stadium .
Coastal shipping from Cape Cod to the islands also faced widespread cancellations, while Rhode Island canceled services to Block Island . For regular travelers, however, the possibility of being stranded is “a part of life,” said Sean Driscoll , a spokesman for the Steamship Authority. “It’s annoying, but at this point we know what to do in these situations. It’s not out of the ordinary.”
That familiarity is reflected in the residents’ daily preparations. Ashley Destino of Gloucester , Massachusetts, enjoyed a last walk on the beach with her two young children before she locked herself in. “We came to the beach on Friday afternoon because we knew we were going to be inside all weekend,” she said, having prepared Lego and painting activities for her children, ages 7 and 4. She had also made sure to secure her boat with extra ropes, while her husband pulled out the generator in case of a power outage.
