During the early stages of a powerful nor’easter, John Garrisi and Gaige Graf moved outdoor furniture to protect it from the encroaching storm. In Atlantic City, N.J., Talia Manno faced waves that reached halfway up her front steps on Saturday. This was reminiscent of Hurricane Sandy for Manno, a lifelong resident. “The water reached my fifth step,” she recounted. “Even for those accustomed to high tides and flooding, this was frightening and rapid.”
The storm affected tens of millions from the mid-Atlantic to Maine’s coast. As of Saturday evening, nearly 80,000 people in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Massachusetts were without electricity, as reported by PowerOutage.com. The National Weather Service (NWS) predicted the storm to continue impacting the Jersey Shore, New York City, and Eastern Massachusetts through Sunday.
Social media was flooded with videos from New Jersey showing submerged streets and massive waves. In New York City, people were captured kayaking through waterlogged streets. Both New Jersey and New York declared states of emergency, extending to New York City.
A nor’easter, typically expected from October through May, arrives earlier than usual this year. Francis Tarasiewicz, a meteorologist at NWS, warned of winds potentially reaching 60 miles per hour along the coast. “This storm will last about 48 hours,” he noted, “with continuous winds exceeding 35 to 40 miles per hour.”
The nor’easter wreaked havoc on travel plans. FlightAware data showed over 1,000 flight cancellations on Saturday, and thousands of other flights experienced delays. Ferry services in Cape Cod and Rhode Island faced disruptions, while Amtrak canceled multiple trains due to adverse conditions.
Jessica Lisboa, embarking on a cruise off New York’s coast, experienced rough seas. Preparing with green apples, ginger ale, and an acupressure anti-nausea bracelet, she described the ride as adventurous, “like a roller coaster.”
The storm also disrupted major events. Maryland’s Oceans Calling music festival was canceled, an AC/DC concert in New Jersey was postponed, and the Boston Red Sox rescheduled a game against the Chicago Cubs.
Despite these challenges, some adapted. Olga Ostrovetsky’s outdoor wedding in Wallkill, N.Y., faced high winds. Initially disappointed, Ostrovetsky found a silver lining, as she and her fiancé met during a torrential downpour. “This weather mirrors the day we met,” she remarked.
However, not everyone finds comfort. Manno decided to spend Saturday night with family away from the coast. Considering how frequent and severe flooding has become, she questioned her future in Atlantic City. “Each year, the floods worsen,” she said. “It’s overwhelming.”
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