**Powerful Storm Floods US Northeast, Causes Power Outages**
A powerful nor’easter has been battering the northeastern United States for a second consecutive day, leading to significant flooding in low-lying areas and widespread power outages affecting tens of thousands of residents. The storm, which began impacting the region on Friday, September 25, 2026, has unleashed extreme rainfall and strong winds, prompting concerns among residents and local authorities alike.
In New Jersey, tidal surges have inundated several neighborhoods, particularly along the coastline. Reports indicate that some areas have experienced over 10 centimeters (4 inches) of rain since the storm began, resulting in flooding levels not seen in nearly a decade. The situation has been exacerbated by high winds, which have toppled trees and damaged homes, particularly on New York’s Long Island. In New York City, the Howard Beach neighborhood in Queens was notably affected, with streets submerged under water.
The storm has already claimed a life; a worker from the New York City Housing Authority was killed when a tree fell on Saturday. As the storm continues to linger, forecasts indicate that heavy rain, strong winds, and dangerous surf conditions will persist through Sunday, extending the storm's impact into New England.
Images emerging from the affected areas show waves crashing against sea walls and onto beaches, raising alarms about potential coastal erosion. The storm has also triggered memories of Hurricane Sandy, which devastated the eastern United States in 2012, causing over $60 billion in damages. While the current storm's impact is not expected to reach those catastrophic levels, it may signal the beginning of a stormy fall season along the East Coast, influenced by the El Niño climate pattern.
As of Sunday, more than 100,000 customers across the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions were reported to be without power, according to data from PowerOutage.us. The most significant outages were concentrated in coastal counties stretching from New Jersey to Connecticut. The storm's effects have also disrupted air travel, with over 250 flights canceled at Boston Logan International Airport alone by late Sunday morning, as wind gusts reached up to 64 kilometers per hour (40 mph).
The National Weather Service has warned that while the storm is gradually weakening, tidal flooding is expected to persist through the high-tide cycles on Sunday night. Bob Oravec, a lead forecaster with the National Weather Service in College Park, Maryland, emphasized that the worst of the rainfall would continue to impact areas from northern New Jersey into southern New England.
As residents begin to assess the damage and clean up in the aftermath of the storm, local authorities are urging caution, particularly in flood-prone areas. The combination of heavy rainfall and high winds poses ongoing risks, and emergency services remain on high alert as the storm continues to affect the region.
With the potential for more storms in the coming weeks, communities are preparing for the possibility of additional severe weather events, as the El Niño pattern may lead to an active fall season for the East Coast.