Nor’easter exits after days of heavy rain and coastal flooding across U.S. Northeast
A slow-moving nor’easter weakened off New England on September 28, 2026, after producing a gust of 130 km/h (81 mph) at Montauk Point, nearly 160 mm (6.3 inches) of rain in southeastern Massachusetts and measured coastal inundation above 0.8 m (2.6 feet) in New York City. PSEG Long Island recorded more than 128 000 cumulative outages across Long Island and the Rockaways, with power restored to more than 99% of affected customers by late September 28.
Storm damage in Long Island due to the nor'easter storm on September 27, 2026. Credit: PSEG Long Island
At 16:02 LT (20:02 UTC) on September 28, the National Weather Service (NWS) New York/Upton office analyzed the storm’s center approximately 105 km (65 miles) south of Montauk with a central pressure of 1 008 hPa.
The system was weakening and moving toward Cape Cod and the Gulf of Maine. Light rain and drizzle were tapering from west to east, while most Small Craft Advisories had been canceled.
The nor’easter developed as a surface low intensified while moving north off the Mid-Atlantic coast and interacted with a closed upper-level low. The circulations became vertically aligned before the system turned back toward the coast and slowed near New Jersey and Long Island.
Its slow movement maintained a prolonged easterly flow from the Atlantic, allowing bands of rain to repeatedly cross parts of New York, New Jersey, and southern New England. Persistent onshore winds also raised water levels during successive high-tide cycles.
NWS New York/Upton listed a peak gust of 130 km/h (81 mph) at Montauk Point at 04:00 LT (08:00 UTC) on September 26. The observation came from a Mesonet sensor approximately 34 m (110 feet) above ground and should therefore be distinguished from standard airport observations.
A CWOP station at Stony Brook reported 114 km/h (71 mph). Standard airport systems measured 98 km/h (61 mph) at Farmingdale and 90 km/h (56 mph) at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
In New Jersey, NWS Mount Holly listed 111 km/h (69 mph) at a station in Harvey Cedars. A public observer submitted a higher value of 119 km/h (74 mph) from Surf City.
NWS cautioned that the wind compilation included reports from networks with different equipment and exposure and that not all listed observations were considered official.
Some of the highest later rainfall measurements occurred in southeastern Massachusetts. An NWS employee reported 160 mm (6.28 inches) during the 24 hours ending on the morning of September 28 near Forestdale, while a CoCoRaHS station near West Tisbury measured 158 mm (6.22 inches).
Preliminary storm totals in New York included 148 mm (5.83 inches) at a CoCoRaHS station near Centereach and 146 mm (5.74 inches) at a CWOP station near East Norwich. Central Park’s automated station measured approximately 78 mm (3 inches).
NWS Mount Holly listed 142 mm (5.58 inches) at a CWOP station in Old Bridge and 124 mm (4.9 inches) at a CoCoRaHS station in Monroe Township, New Jersey.
Coastal flooding affected low-lying communities around New York City and Long Island. An NWS local storm report using NYC FloodNet data measured approximately 0.81 m (31.7 inches) of inundation at City Island in the Bronx on September 26.
Another FloodNet observation measured 0.78 m (30.6 inches) at Davenport Court in Howard Beach, Queens. Preliminary public reports described 0.6–0.9 m (2–3 feet) of water in parts of Broad Channel and Old Howard Beach.
In New Jersey, gauges at Ocean City, Barnegat Light, Atlantic City and Cape May Harbor reached moderate coastal flood stage during the evening of September 25.
Fire and rescue personnel reported hotel evacuations near Black Horse Pike in Atlantic County at approximately 09:00 LT (13:00 UTC) on September 26 as floodwater covered the roadway. The Ocean County Sheriff’s Office reported additional closures caused by tidal flooding and downed wires.
PSEG Long Island said the three-day storm caused more than 128 000 cumulative outages across Long Island and the Rockaways. More than 2 000 fallen trees and branches affected electric service.
At 21:15 LT on September 28 (01:15 UTC on September 29), the utility reported that power had been restored to more than 99% of affected customers.
The storm’s wind field extended into southern New England. NWS Boston/Norton listed gusts of 100 km/h (62 mph) at Nantucket Airport, 85 km/h (53 mph) at Boston Logan International Airport and 79 km/h (49 mph) at Block Island.
Other observing networks reported 113 km/h (70 mph) near Wellfleet and 103 km/h (64 mph) north of Block Island. NWS cautioned that these observations also came from networks with differing equipment and exposure.
References:
1 Latest local storm reports – NWS New York/Upton – Accessed on September 29, 2026
2 Public Information Statement – NWS Boston – Accessed on September 29, 2026
Rishav Kothari is Editor-in-Chief of The Watchers, where he runs the newsroom and covers earthquakes, volcanoes, severe weather and space weather.
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