Waves pound the coast in Scituate, Mass., on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, as the tide comes in during the nor'easter. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images) (JOSEPH PREZIOSO via Getty Images)

Live updates: Powerful nor'easter batters East Coast with coastal flooding, high winds and power outages

· Yahoo News

A powerful nor'easter is battering the East Coast this weekend, bringing major coastal flooding, damaging winds and heavy rain from the Carolinas to southern New England.

More than 20 million people from Virginia to New Jersey are under coastal flood warnings, according to The Weather Channel, and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill have both issued emergency declarations. Tens of thousands of customers across the New York City area had lost power by Saturday morning, and hundreds of flights have been canceled.

The storm is expected to strengthen off the Mid-Atlantic coast Saturday and reach the Jersey Shore late Saturday into Sunday, according to the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center. Forecasters warned that flooding could return with several high tides through the weekend. Wind gusts of 45 to 65 mph are possible on eastern Long Island and in southeastern New England.

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Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches are expected across the Northeast, with some areas between New Jersey and Boston getting as much as 6 inches, ABC News reported. The storm is expected to weaken slowly Sunday night and move northeast Monday.

Follow below for the latest updates.

  • New York and New Jersey declare states of emergency

    New York Gov. Kathy Hochul issued an emergency declaration covering New York City, Long Island and Westchester County ahead of the storm, News 12 reported.

    "Take this storm seriously. Stay alert, avoid unnecessary travel, and text 333-111 for real-time updates," Hochul said.

    New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill also declared a state of emergency. New York City beaches are closed through Sunday, and the city is under a travel advisory until 6 a.m. Sunday.

  • Jersey Shore towns already underwater

    In Ship Bottom, N.J., roads were submerged Friday, and some residents left on foot as water filled the streets, CBS News reported. In Ocean City, N.J., entire blocks were flooded.

    Sea Bright Mayor Brian Kelly said some streets in the borough could see as much as 6 feet of water. Manasquan, N.J., issued a voluntary evacuation for some low-lying areas.

  • Forecasters warn of 'repeated rounds' of coastal flooding

    The Weather Prediction Center said widespread major coastal flooding was expected by Saturday morning's high tide, and it warned that "repeated rounds of flooding are likely" over several tide cycles.

    "Prepare immediately for significant inundation in low-lying areas near the shore, including roads underwater and impacts to homes and businesses," the center said in its Saturday morning forecast discussion.

    The next high tide, around 9 p.m. Saturday, could bring moderate coastal flooding with some isolated major flooding, according to ABC News.

  • Hundreds of flights canceled as storm snarls Northeast air travel

    More than 400 flights within, into or out of the U.S. had been canceled as of 11 a.m. Saturday, according to FlightAware, with Northeast airports hit hardest.

    Boston Logan International Airport had canceled about a quarter of its flights, including 131 departures and 122 arrivals. On the islands and Cape Cod, Nantucket canceled 65% of its departures and Martha's Vineyard canceled 80%. Cape Air, which serves both, had canceled 144 flights, or 46% of its schedule.

    Cancellations were lighter in the New York City area, with 14 departures canceled at LaGuardia, seven at JFK and four at Newark. Philadelphia International and Westchester County airports had each canceled 11 departures.

    American Airlines, JetBlue and United are waiving change fees through Sunday for flights at airports in several Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states, according to The Weather Channel.

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  • Tens of thousands without power across the Tri-State area

    he sun sets on the skyline of lower Manhattan and One World Trade Center ahead of an approaching nor'easter storm in New York City on September 25, 2026, as seen from Weehawken, New Jersey. (Photo by Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)
    (Gary Hershorn via Getty Images)

    About 35,000 customers had lost power across the New York City area as of 7 a.m. Saturday, ABC7 New York reported. New Jersey had 18,237 outages and Long Island had 14,291, including 10,715 in Suffolk County. New York City had 2,455, mostly in Queens.

    The National Weather Service recorded peak gusts of 53 mph at JFK Airport, 53 mph in Groton, Conn., 51 mph in Westhampton, N.Y., and 48 mph in Islip, N.Y.