Technology and Science24 September, 20263 min read
Nor'easter Strengthens, Zohran Mamdani Issues Travel Advisory For New York City Flooding
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Nor'easter intensifies off the Mid-Atlantic, bringing prolonged rain, strong winds, and coastal flooding. New York Gov. Hochul declares State of Emergency for NYC, Long Island, and Westchester.
Nor'easter builds, millions brace
A nor'easter gathering strength along the central East Coast is expected to pound beaches in several states with heavy surf and to bring coastal flooding, wind, and rain to parts of the Northeast through the weekend. The storm is projected to affect more than 40 million people from now through the weekend, and it is expected to begin tracking north and strengthening over the next two days. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani issued a travel advisory for the city starting Friday afternoon, urging New Yorkers to pay attention to emergency alerts and warning of possible coastal flooding in parts of Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and near the Battery on Manhattan's southern tip.
Mamdani said, "The forecast path of this storm has moved closer to our city, and it is bringing more rain and stronger winds with it," as the storm’s biggest punch of wind-driven rain and coastal flooding was expected by late Friday or early Saturday. The storm’s timing is complicated by a full moon Saturday, which is compounding the problem by raising high tide levels day by day.
Winds, rain, and waves
Forecasts for the nor'easter include waves up to 19 feet along North Carolina’s Outer Banks, with waves up to 12 feet possible from the Outer Banks to the New Jersey shore through Saturday and along the New England coast through Sunday. ABC News said coastal flood alerts are in effect from the Outer Banks to Maine, with some areas seeing flood inundation up to 3 feet above normal levels. The Weather Channel warned that gusts up to 60 mph are possible through Saturday night in parts of southeast New England, including Boston and Providence, and also along coasts of Delaware and New Jersey.
The Weather Channel also said, "Coastal flooding took place during Friday morning's high tide," as the storm continued to strengthen and bring repeated cycles of ocean and bay water pushing ashore. Boston and Providence, Rhode Island, were described as among the cities where wet and windy conditions will ramp up by Friday night or Saturday morning, with a high wind warning in effect for coastal Massachusetts and Rhode Island for Friday and Saturday.
Emergency actions and risks
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for New York City, Long Island, and Westchester, and the emergency declaration was framed as urging residents to take the storm seriously and to prepare for possible coastal flooding and power outages.
“A full moon Saturday night is also expected to lift tides up to 5 to 6 inches.”
Hochul said, "Take this storm seriously," and "Stay alert, avoid unnecessary travel," as the storm’s strongest impacts were expected from Saturday into early Sunday before conditions slowly weakened.
The Weather Channel described coastal flooding as boosted by Saturday's full moon, with the storm bringing repeated battering from high surf and beach erosion expected along stretches of beaches.
NBC News reported that coastal flood alerts were in effect for 33 million people along the East Coast as of Friday morning, affecting states from Virginia to Rhode Island.
NBC News also said a full moon Saturday night is expected to lift tides up to 5 to 6 inches, while winds and rain were expected to continue into Monday with travel delays and power outages.