Powerful storm hits US Northeast, hundreds of flights canceled
A powerful nor'easter storm brought heavy rain and strong winds to New York, Boston and Philadelphia, forcing hundreds of flight cancellations and leaving tens of thousands without power. Authorities warned of major coastal flooding over the weekend.
A powerful storm system swept through the northeastern United States on Saturday, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to New York, Boston and Philadelphia. The storm, known as a 'nor'easter' for its characteristic northeasterly winds, disrupted travel and daily life across the region.
What is a nor'easter
Nor'easters are large cyclones that form in the western North Atlantic, typically off the US east coast. While they can occur year-round, they are most common between fall and early spring, usually bringing heavy rain or snow along with strong winds.
Flooding warnings
The National Weather Service warned that the storm coincided with high tide cycles through the weekend, raising the risk of significant coastal flooding, including submerged roads and impacts on homes and businesses in low-lying areas. Around 95,000 people across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania were without power on Saturday afternoon.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said coastal areas of New York City and Long Island were especially affected, warning that going near the water this weekend was extremely dangerous. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel due to the strong winds.
Cancellations
Hundreds of flights were canceled because of the storm, including 253 at Boston's Logan Airport alone. Across US airports, more than 400 flights were canceled and over 2,400 were delayed, according to FlightAware. Airlines including JetBlue, United and American issued travel waivers allowing passengers to change flights without fees.
Several major cultural events were also canceled, including the Global Citizen and All Things Go festivals in New York and the Oceans Calling Festival in Maryland. Organizers said it was the first such cancellation in 14 years. Pop star Ed Sheeran's concerts near Boston were also called off. Parts of Massachusetts were forecast to receive up to five inches (13 centimeters) of rain — more than a month's typical rainfall.
