A powerful nor’easter is pounding the East Coast, bringing evacuation warnings, beach closures, travel disruptions and growing concerns about flooding and widespread power outages.
The sprawling storm is expected to dump several inches of rain from Virginia to Maine through the weekend, with some of the heaviest totals forecast for parts of Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
Emergency officials in Manasquan, New Jersey, issued a voluntary evacuation notice for residents living in low-lying areas near the ocean and back bays as coastal flooding threatened the Jersey Shore.
Officials urged elderly residents, people with special needs and others living in vulnerable locations to leave before conditions worsened.
“It is recommended that residents in non-elevated structures located in low-lying flood-prone areas, particularly the elderly and special needs persons, shut off the electrical main in their home and move themselves, vehicles and pets to higher ground until the flooding subsides,” town officials said.
The storm has developed a hurricane-like appearance on some weather models, though meteorologists have stressed that it is not classified as a tropical cyclone.
Meteorologist Ryan Maue described the system as a “blockbuster” nor’easter as forecasters warned that powerful winds and heavy rain could batter coastal communities for days.
The National Weather Service issued numerous wind, high surf and coastal flood alerts across portions of the Northeast as conditions continued deteriorating.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the state was “preparing for the worst” as residents in New York City and Long Island faced the possibility of flooded streets, falling trees and downed power lines.
Communities stretching from North Carolina through Massachusetts were expected to face some of the storm’s most serious coastal impacts.
Strong onshore winds could force several feet of seawater into flood-prone communities, while already saturated ground could make trees more vulnerable to being knocked down.
“Wet ground could make trees more susceptible to toppling in strong winds, which could lead to localized and regional power outages,” AccuWeather said.
Winds between 40 and 60 mph were expected across a broad section of the Northeast, while some stronger coastal gusts could approach hurricane force.
Conditions were also becoming increasingly dangerous over the Atlantic Ocean.
Large waves and rough surf had already battered portions of the Carolina coastline, while marine forecasts called for gale-force winds and potentially storm-force gusts off New Jersey.
“Storm-force winds and hazardous seas will capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility,” the National Weather Service warned. “Mariners should remain in port, alter course, and/or secure the vessel for severe conditions.”
Officials were also urging beachgoers to stay out of the water as dangerous surf and rip currents developed along much of the coast.
Rip current alerts were issued in multiple coastal communities, while beaches in locations including Nahant, Massachusetts, and Atlantic City, New Jersey, were closed as the storm intensified, per Trending Politics.
Nahant fire officials warned that anyone entering the water during the storm could be placing themselves in significant danger.
Atlantic City Beach Patrol Chief Steve Downey said swimming would remain prohibited because conditions were unsafe.
“We’re gonna keep the water closed for any kind of bathing,” Downey said. “Our guys are out there making sure that stays the case. It’s obviously not safe to swim at all.”
The storm was also beginning to create problems for air travelers.
New York’s major airports reported delays Friday as stronger winds and deteriorating weather moved into the region.
Forecasters said the nor’easter was expected to remain close enough to the coastline to keep heavy rain, strong winds and coastal flooding in the forecast through the weekend.
Rainfall was expected to spread deeper into New England by Sunday, while parts of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine could also experience impacts from the system.
Flooding had already been reported in sections of Virginia, where roads and neighborhoods were covered by water as the storm moved north.
Along North Carolina’s Outer Banks, coastal flooding forced closures on Highway 12 as powerful waves and gusty winds battered the shoreline.
The National Weather Service was also warning about dangerous surf and coastal flooding around New York City, with wind and high surf advisories expected to remain in effect into the weekend.
Officials across the East Coast continued urging residents in vulnerable areas to closely monitor local warnings as the nor’easter moved through the region.
