Nor'easter lashes New York City with rain, intense winds

Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News on Sep 26, 2026

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NEW YORK — A powerful early-season nor’easter pounded New York City and much of the East Coast Saturday, unleashing heavy rain and powerful winds across the region.

The worst of the storm was expected Saturday afternoon, and a state of emergency has been declared for New York City, New Jersey and Long Island.

Impacts to air travel were minimal during the early part of Saturday, though delays and disruptions are likely to ramp up as conditions deteriorate.

Travelers flying in and out of the Boston Logan International Airport have been the most affected, with about a quarter of its flights — around 130 departures — canceled, according to FlightAware.

Most outdoor events in the city were canceled as the rain fell — including the 100th Annual San Gennaro Festival procession march through Little Italy, which was scheduled for Saturday afternoon.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said during a Saturday news briefing that the city was prepared for the storm, telling reporters that state agencies are taking an “all hands-on-deck approach” to best manage the severe weather.

“The rain is underway, and while it’s only a half an inch or so thus far, mark my words: Much more is coming,” she warned, adding that coastal flooding remains the biggest concern.

“We expect waves as tall as 20 feet in some areas,” the governor said. “That is a strong storm. It’s ferocious and needs to be taken seriously. It’s going to intensify over the next day.”

Hochul warned New Yorkers against heading to the coast or going into the water as the storm raged.

“Conditions are extremely dangerous. Anyone who goes in or near the water this weekend are literally gambling with their lives,” she said. “Don’t tempt Mother Nature. Don’t risk your life.”

Some streets and highways in low-lying areas by the coast were already flooded as the storm persisted. Drivers of at least two vehicles left disabled by the rising floodwaters were forced to abandon their rides near Christie Avenue and Junction Boulevard in Elmhurst, Queens, according to reports.

State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said that there were 67 incidents, including car crashes, Friday night on Long Island roadways caused by the storm.

As the storm pushes closer to the city, “bands of moderate to heavy rain” will continue “to move in from the east,” the National Weather Service warned. “Some embedded convection with thunderstorms and lightning strikes have occurred.”

Rainfall projections for New York City and Long Island are between 4 and 6 inches, up from initial projections, which means there is an increased likelihood of flash flooding in those areas, as well as in southeastern Connecticut.

In Queens and Long Island, coastal flooding could reach up to 3 feet, with winds of up to 60 mph expected. The gusts will likely be strong enough to down trees and power lines, meteorologists warned.

Reports of power outages were already coming in early Saturday morning, particularly across Nassau and Suffolk counties out on Long Island, according to the NWS.

Roughly 22,000 New Yorkers were in the dark, including more than 2,000 in New York City, another 11,000 of whom live in Suffolk County, and 4,000 each in Nassau County and Queens, according to Poweroutage.us.

The storm is also expected to trigger travel disruptions and road closures are anticipated along the waterfront. City officials have warned to avoid travel when possible this weekend.

The nor’easter is forecast to linger over the area, with rain expected to continue Saturday into Sunday, according to the Weather Channel.

On Monday, it will start to weaken and move out of the area, and some showers are expected throughout the day before the sun returns on Tuesday and Wednesday.