A powerful early-season nor’easter pounded New York City and much of the East Coast early Saturday, unleashing heavy rain and powerful winds across the region.
The worst of the storm was expected late Saturday morning, and a state of emergency has been declared for New York City, New Jersey and Long Island.
Streets and highways in low-lying areas by the coast were already flooded as the storm persisted. Drivers of at least two vehicles left disabled by the rising floodwaters were forced to abandon their rides near Christie Ave. and Junction Blvd. in Elmhurst, Queens, according to reports.
As the storm pushes closer to the city, “bands of moderate to heavy rain” will continue “to move in from the east,” the National Weather Service warned. “Some embedded convection with thunderstorms and lightning strikes have occurred.”
Streets are flooded during a nor’easter storm in Red Hook, Brooklyn, New York City on Saturday, September 26, 2026. (Gardiner Anderson / New York Daily News)
Rainfall projections for New York City and Long Island are between four and six inches, up from initial projections, which means there is an increased likelihood of flash flooding in those areas, as well as in southeastern Connecticut.
In Queens and Long Island, coastal flooding could reach up to three feet, with winds of up to 60 mph expected. The gusts will likely be strong enough to down trees and power lines, meteorologists warned.
Reports of power outages were already coming in early Saturday morning, particularly across Nassau and Suffolk counties out on Long Island, according to the NWS.
Roughly 22,000 New Yorkers were in the dark, including more than 2,000 in New York City, another 11,000 of whom live in Suffolk County, and 4,000 each in Nassau County and Queens, according to Poweroutage.us.
The storm is also expected to trigger travel disruptions and road closures are anticipated along the waterfront. City officials have warned to avoid travel when possible this weekend.
The nor’easter is forecast to linger over the area, with rain expected to continue Saturday into Sunday, according to the Weather Channel.
On Monday, it will start to weaken and move out of the area, and some showers are expected throughout the day before the sun returns on Tuesday and Wednesday.