{"id":476943,"date":"2026-09-27T00:40:15","date_gmt":"2026-09-27T00:40:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/476943\/"},"modified":"2026-09-27T00:40:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-27T00:40:15","slug":"noreasters-worst-may-come-sunday-morning-plenty-of-long-islanders-shrugged-off-saturday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/476943\/","title":{"rendered":"Nor’easter’s worst may come Sunday morning, plenty of Long Islanders shrugged off Saturday"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Little<\/p>\n

GLI meteorologist Sam Augeri warns the Full Harvest Moon could make Sunday\u2019s high tide the most dangerous yet<\/p>\n

Water flooded the boardwalks of Fire Island and poured into streets in Freeport, Island Park, Long Beach and other South Shore communities. Downed trees blocked roads from Uniondale to Mount Sinai. Thousands of Long Islanders lost power.<\/p>\n

The nor\u2019easter hammered Long Island on Saturday. The worst flooding hit during the morning high tide, and in low-lying South Shore neighborhoods the water came up fast. On East Pine Street in Long Beach, it rose nearly a foot and spilled over the curbs, according to ABC7<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Yet many Long Islanders found windows of opportunity to go about their Saturday. They hit the grocery store, walked the dog and packed the bar for college football.<\/p>\n

The storm came in bursts, and long calm, dry stretches between the downpours and hard gusts gave many people a false sense that it had blown over.<\/p>\n

It hasn\u2019t. Officials and forecasters warn the most dangerous stretch may still be ahead.<\/p>\n

\u2018Take this storm seriously\u2019<\/p>\n

\"\"The southern stretches of Babylon Village were under water with many roads impassable by 10:30 a.m. Saturday. (Credit: GLI\/Andrew Theodorakis)<\/p>\n

GLI meteorologist Sam Augeri said the coastal flood threat continues through Sunday\u2019s high tide, with the Full Harvest Moon pushing tides above normal. She said winds of 20 to 40 mph \u2014 gusting to over 50 mph in some areas \u2014 will persist through much of Sunday.<\/p>\n

The next round of heavier rain arrives Saturday night, Augeri said, with on-and-off showers for much of Sunday. Monday stays unsettled, and conditions won\u2019t improve until Tuesday.<\/p>\n

STORM UPDATE: Here\u2019s everything to know about the nor\u2019easter. \ud83c\udf26\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/WvXrdoJdAy<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Greater Long Island (@Greater_LI) September 26, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n

The National Weather Service issued a high wind warning Saturday afternoon that will remain in effect until noon on Sunday. Consistent winds of 25 mph to 35 mph and gusts up to 65 mph are expected from Connecticut through Nassau and Suffolk counties, according to the alert.<\/p>\n

Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for Nassau and Suffolk on Friday.<\/p>\n

\u201cTake this storm seriously,\u201d she said. \u201cStay alert, and avoid unnecessary travel.\u201d<\/p>\n

Flooding, downed trees and a crippled rail line<\/p>\n

\"\"Drivers in Huntington were forced to drive, often single file, around down trees on area roadways. (Credit: GLI\/Andrew Theodorakis)<\/p>\n

Hempstead Town Supervisor John Ferretti said crews cleared 19 downed trees overnight as bands of driving rain and gusts up to 45 mph moved through.<\/p>\n

Floodwater near Island Park forced the LIRR to suspend Long Beach branch service between Valley Stream and Long Beach late Saturday morning. Earlier, a tree fell across the tracks east of Kings Park and halted Port Jefferson branch service between Huntington and Port Jefferson.<\/p>\n

Power outages<\/p>\n

\"\"Pipe Stave Hollow Road in Mount Sinai was blocked due downed power lines. (Credit: GLI\/Brian Harmon)<\/p>\n

More than 17,000 PSEG Long Island customers were in the dark shortly after 10 a.m. Saturday, with Huntington Town and the South Shore in western Suffolk hit hardest. The utility said it had restored power to more than 23,000 customers since Friday morning and warned more outages are coming.<\/p>\n

By midday on Saturday, more than 13,000 customers were still affected by nearly 800 outages.<\/p>\n

The wind itself could slow repairs. PSEG officials note that workers cannot work safely with winds over 40 mph.<\/p>\n

Outages and downed wires should be reported by calling 1.800.490.0075.<\/p>\n

County executives\u2018 updates<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said 7- to 10-foot waves have caused substantial erosion from Fire Island to Montauk. EMS and fire calls are running double a normal day, he said.<\/p>\n

Romaine\u2019s advice has been blunt: \u201cIf you don\u2019t have to go out during the heavy rainfall, don\u2019t go out. If your street floods, don\u2019t drive through flooded areas.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman warned that the storm would be \u201cmore impactful than previously thought.\u201d<\/p>\n

Neither county expects voluntary or mandatory evacuations. If Nassau does call one, residents should head to Nassau Community College.<\/p>\n

\u2018We just wanted to check out the big waves\u2019<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Some people went out just to see what the storm had churned up.<\/p>\n

At Miller Place Landing Beach on Saturday afternoon, 7-year-old Leo Agathos stood with his dad George watching whitecaps pound a shoreline that usually sits fairly still.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just wanted to check out the big waves,\u201d said Leo, a second-grader. \u201cIt\u2019s normally like calm.\u201d<\/p>\n

The water had swallowed the beach where the family usually walks. Leo spotted debris tossing in the surf. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of, like, garbage,\u201d he said. \u201cI saw a rubber ducky.\u201d<\/p>\n

George Agathos said he brought his son down to show him how high the tide had climbed with the storm. He kept a respectful distance.<\/p>\n

Long Islanders do their best to deal with circumstances<\/p>\n

\"\"Guy Lombardo Boulevard near Atlantic Avenue in Freeport around 9 a.m. Saturday. (Credit: GLI\/Andrew Rappaport)<\/p>\n

\"\"Drivers attempted to traverse South Ocean Avenue near Carman Street in Freeport Saturday morning. (Credit: GLI\/Andrew Rappaport)<\/p>\n

\"\"Crashing waves at Robert Moses State Park Saturday afternoon. (Credit: GLI\/Andrew Theodorakis)<\/p>\n

\"\"Stretches of roadway to Cedar Beach in Mount Sinai were under water by Saturday afternoon but many cars still plowed through. Others turned back. (Credit: GLI\/Brian Harmon)<\/p>\n

\"\"The front yard of a Mount Sinai home on the Sound near Cedar Beach. (Credit: GLI\/Brian Harmon)<\/p>\n

\"\"Much of lower Babylon Village was inaccessible by 10 a.m. Saturday. Fire Island Avenue was flooded over starting at Robbins Avenue. (Credit: GLI\/Mike White) <\/p>\n

\"\"The southern reaches of West Islip were largely under water by 9:30 a.m. Saturday, with the creeks beginning to crest as well. (Credit: GLI\/Mike White)<\/p>\n

Top: Miller Place\u2019s Landing Beach (Brian Harmon\/GLI).<\/p>\n

\"Your
\n Your Long Island news, delivered.<\/p>\n

Subscribe to the GLI Newsletter \u2014 its free<\/p>\n

Subscribe<\/p>\n