Powerful nor'easter floods north-east US as New York and New Jersey declare emergencies

A powerful nor'easter is bringing coastal flooding, strong winds and heavy rain to the north-eastern United States, with New York and New Jersey both declaring states of emergency. The storm is affecting a broad stretch from Virginia to Maine, with some of the worst flooding reported in coastal New Jersey communities. Officials have warned that conditions could worsen through the weekend.

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The US National Weather Service said the storm is producing dangerous coastal flooding and beach conditions, along with strong winds and heavy rainfall in places including New York City and Boston. In New Jersey, floodwater inundated streets and homes in Surf City and Manasquan, while residents in Beach Haven West were seen moving through flooded neighbourhoods by kayak. The agency warned of significant inundation in low-lying areas near the shore, including roads underwater and impacts to homes and businesses.

The storm has also caused widespread disruption to power and transport. More than 100,000 households, almost all in the north-east, lost electricity according to a power outage tracker. The Federal Aviation Administration advised passengers to check with airlines, as more than 2,400 flights were delayed and another 1,199 were grounded.

In New York, officials warned of wind gusts of up to 55mph, which could bring down trees and power lines. The emergency declarations underline the scale of the event and the pressure on local authorities as the region faces a combination of flooding, outages and travel disruption. Saturday's full moon is expected to make coastal flooding worse, adding to the risk in low-lying areas.

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The storm has already led to cancelled stadium events and other schedule changes, showing how quickly severe weather can affect daily life across a densely populated corridor. In New Jersey, Governor Mikie Sherrill urged residents to take the storm seriously, stay alert and follow local guidance. In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani told residents not to travel unless necessary and warned them not to drive or walk through floodwater.

The warnings reflect the wider challenge posed by nor'easters, which can bring a mix of wind, rain and coastal surge to the Atlantic seaboard during the colder months. What remains unclear is how long the worst conditions will last and how much additional flooding or damage may follow as the storm moves through the region. Officials are still assessing the full impact on homes, roads, power networks and air travel.

The key developments to watch are whether floodwaters recede quickly after high tide, whether more outages are reported and whether further cancellations are ordered as the weather system continues north-eastward.

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