State of emergency declared in NYC, Long Island and Westchester County as nor’easter slams area

A state of emergency has been announced in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County amid a strong nor’easter affecting the Northeast, resulting in fierce winds, heavy rainfall, and coastal flooding on Sunday and Monday.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul issued the declaration on Sunday evening.

“In response to the ongoing nor’easter, I am declaring a State of Emergency for NYC, Long Island, and Westchester,” she shared via post on X. “We’re standing by to support local authorities as we face severe winds and heavy rain, which could lead to flooding and power outages.”

As a result of the severe weather and the state of emergency, New York City’s Columbus Day Parade has been canceled.

“Due to the Governor’s State of Emergency declaration on October 12 relating to the dangerous weather conditions caused by the nor’easter, including high winds, heavy rain, and flooding in nearby areas, we’ve had to cancel the 81st Annual Columbus Day Parade for the safety of all involved,” officials stated in an announcement.

Officials confirmed that the parade cannot be rescheduled and will take place again in 2026.

Footage from Freeport, New York, on Long Island displayed flooded streets as the nor’easter continued to wreak havoc in the region from Sunday night into Monday morning.

The nor’easter initially impacted areas in the Southeast and Carolinas over the weekend, leaving inches of rainfall and generating tropical storm-force wind gusts from the already storm-damaged North Carolina coast to the Jersey Shore.

In light of anticipated severe coastal flooding and heavy rain, acting New Jersey Governor Tahesha Way announced a statewide emergency for all 21 counties in New Jersey as of Saturday due to the impending storm.

As of Monday morning, approximately 40,000 power outages were reported across four states, with the highest numbers in Connecticut and New Jersey, according to PowerOutage.com.

Outer Banks Struck by Intense Winds and Flooding as Nor’easter Hits North Carolina Coast

Residents in North Carolina’s Outer Banks were confronted with massive waves and coastal flooding due to the powerful nor’easter over the weekend, endangering homes in Buxton near the Atlantic.

Rodanthe and Buxton suffered the loss of nine beachfront houses from the advancing surf earlier this month, and additional homes are at risk of collapse.

Highway 12 is being quickly cleared by road crews from the Department of Transportation after parts were closed on Sunday due to severe flooding affecting the storm-damaged areas of Hatteras Island.

The highway had also faced closures from coastal flooding due to hurricanes Imelda and Humberto earlier in the month.

Delaware Calls National Guard into Action for Nor’easter Response

On Sunday, the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) declared the activation of the Delaware National Guard to assist in the storm response as the nor’easter battered the state.

Voluntary evacuations were recommended for areas of Bowers Beach due to the threat of flooding.

“DEMA has been working with state and local officials since Friday preparing for potential storm impacts and is positioning Guard resources for prompt deployment as necessary,” DEMA stated in a press release.

Authorities noted that reception centers are open in Kent and Sussex counties, with shelter preparations underway should they become necessary.

“With ongoing concerns regarding moderate to severe flooding and damaging winds, we anticipate potential storm and wind-related damage to trees, power outages, and flooding of roadways, which could prompt more local evacuations,” officials urged. “DEMA requests that residents remain informed and heed directives from local authorities during this severe weather event.”

Tropical Storm-Force Winds Impact Coastal Regions

As the nor’easter moved up the East Coast, tropical storm-force wind gusts battered coastal communities stretching from the Southeast through the mid-Atlantic and into the Northeast.

Severe winds, intense rain, and coastal flooding marked this fall storm.

Rainfall exceeded 10 inches in some areas of South Carolina, with widespread amounts between 4 to 5 inches recorded across the remaining Carolinas.

Wind gusts reached 62 mph at Jennettes Pier, North Carolina, and 61 mph at Cape Lookout, North Carolina.

Additionally, several tropical storm-force wind gusts were noted in New Jersey.

Nor’easter Effects to Persist into Tuesday

The nor’easter will continue to influence communities in the Northeast and New England on Monday, with effects lingering at least until Tuesday.

The FOX Forecast Center indicated that heavy precipitation and strong winds would affect areas from Atlantic City in New Jersey northwards along the Interstate 95 corridor through New York City, New Haven in Connecticut, Providence in Rhode Island, and Boston.

Even inland locations are facing heavy rainfall, with Hartford, Connecticut, and Albany, New York, experiencing substantial downpours.

The winds have moderated somewhat, with the storm anticipated to clear the area soon, allowing conditions to improve.

Peak coastal flooding is expected early Monday as wind patterns shift from onshore to parallel to the coast, ultimately providing some relief to the shorelines.

The impact of wind and rain will persist throughout Monday, although some areas of the Jersey Shore may see improvements later in the day.

However, people from Long Island to Boston should brace for a day of heavy rain and challenging conditions.