An early fall nor’easter moved north along the U.S. East Coast on Friday, September 25, 2026, bringing heavy rain, high winds, and coastal flooding. The storm intensified as it tracked along the Atlantic seaboard, with states of emergency declared in New York and New Jersey. According to CNN, more than 40 million people across several states are expected to experience impacts from the storm through the weekend.
The storm formed several hundred miles off the Mid-Atlantic coast before strengthening and lashing the North Carolina Outer Banks and the New Jersey shore with high surf and wind. Meteorologists from the FOX Forecast Center reported that the storm is expected to reach peak intensity on Saturday, September 26, as it moves toward New England. Local officials, including Nantucket Fire Department Chief Michael Cranson, stated they anticipated significant flooding.
In North Carolina, the Department of Transportation closed N.C. 12, the primary roadway through the Outer Banks, between the Marc C. Basnight Bridge and Rodanthe after ocean water covered the road. In New Jersey, flooding inundated some homes and roads, while wind gusts of 35 to 45 mph were reported along the shore. By Friday afternoon, rain began spreading into the New York City metro area and southern New England, leading to the cancellation of concerts and events including Ed Sheeran, Global Citizen, and All Things Go.
The nor’easter is projected to affect residents living along the I-95 corridor from North Carolina to Maine. For coastal residents from New Jersey to Massachusetts, the storm presents a threat of property damage due to 15- to 18-foot waves and persistent inundation during high-tide cycles. In southern New England and the Boston metro area, where the FOX Forecast Center expects the worst impacts on Saturday and Sunday, rainfall could exceed 5 inches, and wind gusts of 50 to 65 mph may cause power outages and falling debris.
Commuters and travelers may face disruptions through Monday. Major transportation hubs and airports across the Northeast are bracing for delays and cancellations, while roadways like N.C. 12 have already experienced closures. Residents in low-lying areas of New York City, including parts of Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island, are expected to see street-level flooding as trapped water prevented drainage during high tides.
Large-scale entertainment and cultural events scheduled for the weekend have been cancelled. Beyond the immediate physical damage to beaches and dunes, the duration of the storm—expected to remain near peak intensity through Sunday—may strain local utility crews and emergency responders managing power restoration and flood monitoring. The storm is forecast to weaken and move away from the coast starting Monday, September 28, though residual rough surf and minor flooding may persist.