First nor’easter of the season hits Northeast, leaving more than 587 000 customers without power, U.S.

A rapidly intensifying coastal storm affecting parts of the Northeast U.S. since October 25, 2021, brought strong winds and flooding rains, from New Jersey into most of southern New England. This is the first nor'easter of the season, with the worst effects forecast to hit New England late October 26 through October 27.

Parts of New Jersey received up to 125 mm (5 inches) of rain by 11:00 LT on October 26. Central Park in New York City received 68.58 mm (2.7 inches) of rain by 13:00 LT while Islip on Long Island received 66.04 mm (2.6 inches).

Strong winds brought by the storm left more than 29 000 customers without power in Massachusetts by 23:59 LT on October 26 (03:59 UTC, October 27).

As the storm continued intensifying, the number of customers without power in Massachusetts rose to 189 000 by 08:25 UTC (up from 150 000 at 08:00 UTC), 21 620 in Maine, and 9 030 in New Hampshire.

The number rose to more than 587 000 by 16:00 UTC — 492 000 in Massachusetts, 82 000 in Rhode Island, and 13 000 in Connecticut.

The Nor'easter responsible for producing flash flooding and powerful winds across much of the Northeast will begin to wane in strength and impact today as the surface low moves out into the North Atlantic, NWS forecaster Kebede noted at 07:00 UTC today. 

Additional rainfall amounts will be marginal, but winds will remain strong until this evening when the surface pressure gradient weakens. Wind advisories, high wind warnings and flood watches remain in effect for parts of southern New England.

Autumn-like temperatures will return to the East Coast for the next several days in the wake of the departing Nor'easter as well as the arrival of high pressure over the Ohio Valley and eventually the Northeast.

Featured image: Nor'easter at 19:10 UTC on October 26, 2021. Credit: NOAA/GOES-East, RAMMB/CIRA, TW