One dead and 60,000 without power as powerful Nor’easter batters US Northeast

A powerful autumn storm swept across the northeastern United States, bringing torrential rain, dangerous winds, coastal flooding and widespread disruption, with one death reported and more than 60,000 customers left without electricity.

New York, Boston and Philadelphia were among the areas facing the storm’s impact as the system intensified along the coast. Authorities warned residents about dangerous travel conditions, flooding and the risk of falling trees and power lines.

The storm, known as a Nor’easter because of its strong northeasterly winds, continued moving along the northern Mid-Atlantic and southern New England coast. The National Weather Service warned that the system would strengthen as it moved toward New Jersey and Long Island, bringing some of its most severe conditions to the region.

Coastal communities were facing an additional threat from major flooding. Forecasters said several high-tide cycles over the weekend could produce significant coastal flooding, with the full moon adding to the risk.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul urged people to stay away from the water as conditions deteriorated along coastal areas of New York City and Long Island. She described the situation as extremely dangerous and warned that entering or going near the water could put lives at serious risk.

In Brooklyn, a 56-year-old man was reportedly killed after powerful winds brought down a tree that struck him, according to US media reports. His death highlighted the dangers posed by the combination of saturated ground and powerful wind gusts across the region.

Power outages were also spreading across several states. More than 60,000 customers in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania were without electricity, according to power outage monitoring data cited in the report.

Long Island was expected to receive as much as six inches, or around 15 centimetres, of rain over several days. Officials also warned that some coastal locations could experience waves reaching approximately 20 feet, or six metres, creating dangerous conditions for coastal residents, boaters and emergency crews.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also warned residents to take the weather seriously, particularly because of strong wind gusts and the possibility of fallen trees and power lines. Residents were encouraged to avoid unnecessary travel while the storm passed through.

The storm caused major disruption to air travel as well. Hundreds of flights were cancelled, including 253 at Boston Logan International Airport, while delays were reported at airports across the region. Airlines including JetBlue, United and American issued travel advisories allowing affected passengers to change flights without additional fees.

The weather also affected preparations surrounding the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The United Nations advised media organisations covering the gathering to remove broadcasting equipment from outside its headquarters because of the dangerous winds.

Large public events were cancelled as organisers placed safety ahead of entertainment. The Global Citizen and All Things Go festivals in New York, along with Oceans Calling in Maryland, were among the events affected.

Organisers of the Global Citizen event said the cancellation marked the first time in 14 years that the festival had been called off. The Central Park event had been scheduled to feature artists including Lenny Kravitz, Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys, Lainey Wilson and Shaboozey.

The storm also disrupted entertainment plans around Boston. British singer Ed Sheeran’s weekend concerts near the city were cancelled after severe weather brought wind gusts of up to 70 miles per hour, or approximately 113 kilometres per hour, along parts of the New England coast.

Massachusetts was also preparing for substantial rainfall, with some areas, including Boston, forecast to receive around five inches of rain. That amount is equivalent to more than a month of typical rainfall in a short period, raising concerns about flooding and overwhelmed drainage systems.

Flooding had already affected parts of North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey earlier in the week. The latest storm added another layer of pressure for communities that were still dealing with saturated conditions.

Nor’easters can develop at different times of the year but are particularly common from autumn through early spring. They are typically associated with powerful winds and significant rain or snowfall, depending on temperatures and location.

For residents across the Northeast, the storm was more than another difficult weather event. Cancelled flights, flooded roads, power outages, damaged property, cancelled concerts and dangerous coastal conditions turned an unusually intense autumn storm into a major regional disruption.

At the centre of it all were ordinary people trying to get home safely, protect their families and navigate a weekend that changed dramatically as the weather intensified. With flooding and strong winds continuing to threaten parts of the region, authorities were urging residents to take warnings seriously and avoid unnecessary risks.

The latest storm follows another Nor’easter earlier in the year that disrupted hundreds of flights and left thousands of homes and businesses without electricity. It also came after a severe winter weather system that was linked to more than 100 deaths in the region.