Tens of millions of people are in the path of a powerful nor’easter moving up the East Coast. The storm is expected to bring heavy rain, damaging winds, coastal flooding and dangerous surf through the weekend, with major impacts expected from the Mid-Atlantic into New England. In North Wildwood, New Jersey, large waves were already pounding the seawall as the storm approached.
The Boston Red Sox adjusted their weekend series against the Chicago Cubs because of the weather. Sunday’s game was moved to Friday to create a split doubleheader. Ed Sheeran canceled his Friday and Saturday concerts at Gillette Stadium. Public ferry services connecting Cape Cod with Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard were also experiencing widespread cancellations because of high winds and rough seas.
Ferry cancellations were expected to extend into Saturday, affecting travel plans for residents and visitors alike. New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill declared a state of emergency in eight counties expected to face some of the storm’s worst effects. The declaration covers Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Salem counties.
Several inches of rain are possible in parts of the region through the weekend. Dangerous surf and coastal flooding are also expected. National Weather Service warnings in parts of New York call for one to three feet of inundation above ground level in vulnerable waterfront areas.
Rain and strong winds are expected to continue through much of the weekend. The storm is forecast to weaken as it moves away, but travel disruptions and power outages could continue after the worst conditions pass.
Southeast New England is at high risk for power outages because of strong winds and trees that still have leaves. Peak wind gusts could reach 60 to 65 mph on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. Gusts around Boston could reach 50 to 55 mph.
A full moon this weekend is also contributing to higher astronomical tides, increasing the coastal flooding risk. High water and strong onshore winds could push water into vulnerable roads and communities.
Wind gusts above 50 mph have also affected parts of the Mid-Atlantic coast. Emergency crews across the region have been preparing for fallen trees, flooding and coastal damage.
In New Jersey, some roads in Manasquan were already flooding Friday. A voluntary evacuation was issued for some low-lying areas. Farther north in Sea Bright, Mayor Brian Kelly said flooding could reach as high as six feet on some streets.
Kelly compared the possible flooding to conditions during Irene in 2011. He encouraged people in low-lying areas to consider leaving before conditions worsen. Sea Bright planned to open its recreation center for evacuees.
The storm has also disrupted entertainment and travel across the Northeast. Global Citizen Festival in Central Park and the New York edition of All Things Go were canceled. The AC/DC concert at MetLife Stadium was moved to October 2 because of the storm.
More than 200 flights involving airports in Boston, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard and New York had been canceled by Friday. Airlines were also waiving some change and cancellation fees.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Nolo is moving toward the waters south of Hawaii’s Big Island with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph. As of Friday afternoon, the hurricane was moving north-northeast at about five mph.
Nolo is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane over the weekend. Forecasters expect the center to remain south of the main Hawaiian Islands, but the storm could still bring dangerous winds, waves and catastrophic rainfall to the Big Island.
Eastern and southern parts of the Big Island could receive 15 to 30 inches of rain, with isolated totals as high as 35 inches. Western parts of the island could receive five to eight inches, with isolated totals near 10 inches. Maui could receive four to eight inches, with higher amounts possible in mountainous areas.
Mudslides and flash flooding are major concerns because of the amount of rain expected over steep terrain. A tropical storm warning and hurricane watch were in effect for Hawaii County as the storm approached.
Hawaii is still recovering from Hurricane Lala, which affected the islands in August. Lala brought catastrophic flooding to the Kaʻū District of the Big Island, considerable flooding on Maui and Oahu and damaging winds across the state.
Emergency preparations were underway across Hawaii ahead of Nolo. State parks on the Big Island and Maui were closed as officials prepared for dangerous conditions. Emergency shelters were also being opened or prepared on the Big Island and Maui.
The National Hurricane Center warned that Nolo could cause catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding on the Big Island through the weekend. Large and damaging waves are also expected along portions of the coastline.
The two storms are affecting opposite sides of the United States at the same time. The nor’easter is threatening communities from the Mid-Atlantic through New England while Nolo poses a serious flooding threat to Hawaii.
Residents in both regions are being urged to monitor official forecasts and emergency alerts as conditions change through the weekend.
IMAGE: NOAA