More than 400 flights were cancelled and over 1,300 delayed across Northeast US airports on Saturday, September 26, 2026, amid a powerful nor’easter that also caused widespread power outages affecting over 100,000 utility customers.
The storm struck the region with gale-force winds, coastal flooding, and heavy rain, resulting in more than 70,000 customers losing electricity as of Saturday morning. By early afternoon, outages decreased to about 88,000 across New Jersey, Connecticut, New York, and Pennsylvania.
Winds, Flooding, and Regional Impact
Wind gusts reached up to 65 mph on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket, with Boston experiencing gusts near 55 mph and inland areas seeing
35 to 40 mph. Coastal New Jersey boroughs such as Sea Bright faced flooding estimates up to 6 feet on some streets, comparable to Hurricane Irene, according to Mayor Brian Kelly. Low-lying areas in Manasquan and Surf City, NJ, also reported street flooding and voluntary evacuations in vulnerable zones.
The National Weather Service warned of major coastal flooding over multiple high tide cycles through the weekend and urged immediate preparation for inundation of roads and affected properties along the Mid-Atlantic coast.
Airport Disruptions and Airline Responses
Boston Logan International Airport recorded 39 flight cancellations and 12 delays between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Saturday,
with FlightAware reporting a total of 130 cancellations there during the storm day. Across the US Northeast, including major hubs like New York’s JFK and Philadelphia, more than 400 flights were cancelled and approximately 1,338 delayed as of September 26.
Airlines including JetBlue, United Airlines, and American Airlines issued travel alerts waiving change or cancellation fees for flights affected by the storm.
Ferry Service Disruptions
Public ferry operations connecting Cape Cod with Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard experienced widespread cancellations due to the storm’s strong winds and rough waters. Ferry service to Block Island, Rhode Island, was also cancelled, with disruptions expected to persist
into Saturday, according to Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority spokesman Sean Driscoll.
Driscoll emphasized that ferry cancellations are a frequent occurrence during such weather events, and travelers typically have contingency plans.
Public Safety Advisories and Event Changes
Governors in New York and New Jersey declared states of emergency for counties forecasted to be heavily impacted. The Connecticut governor activated the state’s Emergency Operations Center. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani advised residents to avoid travel unless necessary due to strong winds and the risk of downed power lines.
Major events were modified or canceled in response to the storm. The Boston Red Sox
rescheduled their Sunday game against the Chicago Cubs to Friday, creating a split doubleheader. British singer Ed Sheeran canceled his Friday and Saturday concerts at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
“This storm is expected to bring major coastal flooding to the Mid-Atlantic Coast over multiple high tide cycles through the weekend,” said the National Weather Service. Mayor Brian Kelly stated, “It’s going to be worse than average… closer to an Irene-scale flooding event.” Governor Kathy Hochul remarked, “The rain is under way… Mark my words. Much more is coming.” Mayor Zohran Mamdani advised, “Don’t travel if you don’t have to.”
Sean Driscoll added, “It’s a nuisance, but you know, we know what to do with this kind of stuff at this point.”
