A powerful nor’easterstorm brought gale-force winds and heavy rain to the U.S. Northeast on September 26, causing major disruptions through the weekend. The National Weather Service forecasted significant coastal flooding over multiple high tide cycles along the Mid-Atlantic coast, with wind gusts reaching 60 to 65 mph on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket. Winds near Boston were expected to gust between 50 and 55 mph, while inland areas faced gusts of 35 to 40 mph.
More than 70,000 customers across the Northeast were without electricity on September 26 as downed trees and power lines cut service. The storm’s early-season
timing increased risks, as leaves still on trees created more wind resistance, leading to more damage. Coastal communities in New Jersey, including Sea Bright, Surf City, and Manasquan, reported flooded streets and issued voluntary evacuations. Sea Bright’s mayor Brian Kelly warned the flooding could reach six feet on some streets—comparable to flooding caused by Hurricane Irene in 2011.
Flight Cancellations and Airline Responses
The storm disrupted air travel extensively, with over 400 flights canceled across the Northeast on September 26. Boston Logan International Airport experienced 39 cancellations and 12 delays between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. local time. New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport
canceled 22 flights during the same period. Major airlines, including JetBlue, United Airlines, and American Airlines, issued travel waivers for impacted East Coast flights, allowing customers to change or cancel bookings without fees.
Alongside flight disruptions, the Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority canceled ferry services to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard due to strong winds and rough seas. Sean Driscoll, spokesperson for the Steamship Authority, acknowledged the cancellations cause inconvenience but stated backup plans were in place. Rhode Island ferries to Block Island were also suspended.
Event and Transportation Cancellations
High-profile events were canceled due to the storm. Ed Sheeran’s concerts scheduled
for Friday and Saturday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, were called off. Sporting events adjusted schedules; the Boston Red Sox moved a Sunday game against the Chicago Cubs to Friday, creating a split doubleheader to avoid severe weather impacts.
Official Warnings and Regional Impact
The National Weather Service issued alerts for major coastal flooding and urged immediate preparation for inundation in low-lying areas. “Prepare immediately for significant inundation in low-lying areas near the shore, including roads underwater and impacts to homes and businesses,” the agency said. Brian Kelly, Sea Bright’s mayor, said, “It’s going to be worse than average… but I think this one
will be closer to an Irene-scale flooding event.”
Matthew Belk, an NWS meteorologist, stressed that the closer to the coast, the greater the storm’s impact. New York mayor Zohran Mamdani urged residents not to travel unless necessary due to strong winds and downed power lines. New York State Governor Kathy Hochul reported ongoing rain with up to 15 cm expected on Long Island.
Geographic regions impacted include Boston, New York City, Long Island, Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Rhode Island, Delaware, and the Mid-Atlantic Coast. Coastal New Jersey communities faced floodwaters and wind gusts up to 50 mph, with flooding
expected to worsen through September 26 as the storm progresses.
