Thousands were plunged into darkness as the initial wall of a severe Nor\u2019easter crashed into the East Coast \u2014 with millions of people in the path of the intense storm barreling towards the region early Saturday morning.<\/p>\n
Nearly 30,000 customers in New Jersey were left without power as of 7 a.m. on Saturday, with most blackouts centered around Cumberland, Monmouth and Ocean Counties, according to tracker PowerOutage.us.<\/a><\/p>\n Roughly 22,000 New Yorkers were in the dark \u2014, 11,000 of whom live in Suffolk County and another 4,000 each in Nassau County and Queens.<\/p>\n Massachusetts resident Brenda Malloy walks out of the water after she was caught by surprise by the rough surf from the incoming nor\u2019easter on Sept. 25, 2026. AP Photo\/Robert F. Bukaty<\/p>\n The rapidly strengthening nor\u2019easter is expected to create dangerous conditions with heavy rain and high winds across the large region spanning New England to Long Island, New York City, New Jersey and southern Delaware.<\/p>\n Wind gusts as strong as 60 mph and high surf could cause major coastal flooding throughout the weekend, the National Weather Service said.<\/p>\n Officials have cautioned about tree damage, dangerous rip currents and beach erosion in certain areas.<\/p>\n The worst of the storm is expected late Saturday morning, with high winds, powerful rain and the harvest moon creating perfect conditions for coastal flooding.<\/p>\n NY Gov. Kathy Hochul issued a state of emergency across several counties Friday ahead of the impending storm.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m declaring a State of Emergency for Nassau, Suffolk, New York City and Westchester as this powerful coastal storm bears down on the region,\u201d Hochul said Friday. \u201cWe\u2019re expecting dangerous coastal flooding, strong winds and potential power outages through the weekend. Take this storm seriously. Stay alert, and avoid unnecessary travel.\u201d<\/p>\n Flood water engulfs a street in Surf City, NJ as the powerful storm barreled towards the Atlantic coast on Sept. 26, 2026. Jaiden Meyer via Storyful<\/p>\n Surf breaks along the rocky coastline, with the twin lighthouses of Thatcher Island visible in the distance, during the early stages of a nor\u2019easter in Gloucester, Mass. AP Photo\/Robert F. Bukaty<\/p>\n Con Edison prepares a utility crew staging area at the Playland parking lot in Rye, NY ahead of the nor\u2019easter storm. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n The declaration called for cut and toss crews to be available, along with pre-staging of high-axle vehicles and swift water rescue teams.<\/p>\n New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill also declared a state of emergency for sections of the Garden State as Manasquan Mayor Mike Mangan said he expected \u201ca lot of water in the streets for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont ordered the activation of the state\u2019s Emergency Operations Center.<\/p>\n The NWS placed parts of Connecticut, all of Long Island, New York City, and the Atlantic coast of New Jersey and Delaware under coastal flood warnings.<\/p>\n Drivers stay to the middle lanes on Long Beach Blvd. as water rises on some side streets from the effects of an incoming nor\u2019easter on Sept. 25, 2026. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n Traffic passes beneath a sign over NYC\u2019s West Side Highway warning of high winds and rain over the weekend with the impending arrival of a Nor\u2019easter in the New York metro area. ZUMAPRESS.com<\/p>\n Streets in Surf City, NJ, were already inundated with floodwaters Friday night, according to video shared online.<\/p>\n Other portions of the Garden State coastline saw high surf crashing onto the road over a seawall.<\/p>\n Jersey Shore Manasquan issued a voluntary evacuation warning as coastal area high tides forecast were expected to run 4 feet above normal.<\/p>\n NYC could see between 2 and 3 inches citywide, Mayor Mamdani\u2019s office said.<\/p>\n Massachusetts airports Boston Logan, Nantucket and Martha\u2019s Vineyard have canceled nearly 180 flights as of Saturday morning, according to flightaware.com.<\/a> \u00a0<\/p>\n People move an outdoor table away from the shorefront during preparations for the storm in Gloucester, Mass. AP Photo\/Robert F. Bukaty<\/p>\n Clouds roll in over New York City as a nor\u2019easter is expected to bring heavy rain and winds. REUTERS<\/p>\n Several concerts and sporting events scheduled for Saturday across the region were also moved or canceled due to the storm.<\/p>\n The New York Yankees played their Saturday contest as part of a single-admission doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles Friday.<\/p>\n The 2026 Global Citizens Festival set for Saturday in Central Park was canceled because of the powerful weekend storm. The All Things Go Festival, which was set to featre Zara Larsson, Carly Rae Jepsen, among other musicians at Forest Hills Stadium, was also scrapped.<\/p>\n