A powerful nor'easter storm struck the northeastern United States, causing coastal flooding, high winds and power outages. States of emergency were declared in New York and New Jersey. One person died, while hundreds of flights were canceled and thousands affected.
New York: A powerful nor'easter storm caused widespread impact in the north-eastern part of America on Saturday. Flooding continues to occur in many coastal areas of New York and New Jersey, while power supplies have been disrupted due to strong winds and heavy rain. Emergency has been declared in parts of both the states. The US National Weather Service (NWS) has issued warnings of coastal flooding, strong winds, heavy rainfall and dangerous ocean conditions.
The effects of this storm are being seen from Virginia to Maine. Lakhs of people are in the area of its influence. Roads and homes were affected by floodwaters in New Jersey coastal communities. At the same time, information of death of one person due to falling of a tree has come to light in Brooklyn, New York.
State of emergency in New York and New Jersey
Given the threat of the nor'easter, the governors of New York and New Jersey have declared emergencies in the counties where the storm's impact was expected to be greatest. An emergency operations center was also activated in Connecticut.
According to the US National Weather Service, coastal areas could face flooding about 1 to 2 feet above normal ground level. New York's Manhattan and several coastal counties of New Jersey were among the particularly affected areas.
The NWS advised people to avoid flooded roads and waterlogged areas. Officials have warned that driving or walking through flood water can be dangerous.
Flooding in coastal areas of New Jersey
Flood waters reached roads and homes Saturday in New Jersey's coastal communities like Surf City and Manasquan. The situation in coastal areas worsened due to rising sea level and strong winds.
The NWS issued coastal flood warnings for many areas of New Jersey and New York. Under the warning, there was a risk of inundation of low-lying and coastal areas during high tide.
The storm also created high waves and strong currents in the sea. The Meteorological Department also reported dangerous sea conditions and the risk of rip currents.
One person died due to falling of tree
One person was killed when a tree fell on him in Brooklyn, New York, during the storm. According to local reports, the incident of tree falling occurred amid strong winds.
Due to strong winds, pressure on trees and electrical structures has increased. The NWS expected strong winds to break tree branches and cause power outages in parts of New York and New Jersey. Wind speeds in some areas ranged from 20 to 30 mph, with gusts reaching 50 mph.
Electricity failure in more than 1 lakh houses
The nor'easter caused widespread power outages in the north-eastern part of the US. More than 1 million homes and businesses were without power at one point, according to the PowerOutage tracker, which tracks power outages. Most of these connections were affected in the north-eastern US.
There is a risk of damage to power lines and other infrastructure due to strong winds and falling trees. Authorities and power companies continued work to restore supply in the affected areas.
Air travel was also affected
The storm also affected air traffic. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) advised passengers to check their flight status with their respective airlines.
Hundreds of flights were canceled and a large number were delayed on Saturday. According to Reuters, more than 400 flights were canceled due to the storm, while thousands of passengers' travel was affected.
The inclement weather affected operations at New York and other major airports in the northeastern United States. Passengers were advised to check their flight status before going to the airport.
Danger of coastal floods may increase due to full moon
According to weather experts, high tide conditions during Saturday's full moon increased the risk of coastal flooding. Flooding in low-lying areas may become more severe due to strong winds and sea level rise associated with the nor'easter.
The NWS asked to take special precautions during high tide in coastal areas of New York and New Jersey. Coastal flood warnings remained in effect in many places through Sunday.
Impact from Virginia to Maine
The effects of the nor'easter were visible across large parts of the US East Coast. The storm's impact area produced high winds, heavy rain and coastal flooding from Virginia to Maine.
The National Weather Service issued warnings about the storm's impact in the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions. According to the weather department, the impact of the storm was likely to continue through the weekend and adverse weather conditions could persist in some areas till Monday.
Travel and public events affected
Road traffic as well as many public activities were affected due to heavy rains, strong winds and floods. Some stadium events were canceled or postponed.
The administration appealed to people living in coastal areas to follow local warnings and stay away from flood-prone areas. The NWS also advised people not to cross barricades and not drive through flood water of unknown depth.
Emergency agencies on alert
Local and federal agencies are prepared for relief and emergency response amid the growing impact of the storm. Attention is being given to power restoration, road safety and flood management in the affected areas.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has placed response coordination centers in affected areas on a state of increased readiness. Teams are also on standby to deal with possible widespread power outages in the New England region.
Appeal to people to be careful
In view of the circumstances arising due to Nor'easter, the administration has asked people to avoid unnecessary travel and keep an eye on official weather updates. Especially people living on the sea shore and in low-lying areas need to take extra precautions in view of the danger of floods.
It is advised to maintain distance from trees, electric poles and loose objects during strong winds. Officials have warned people that there could be a danger of electrocution in flood waters.
Nor'easter in the north-eastern part of America on Saturday had a widespread impact on life and transportation system. Authorities are monitoring the situation amid a state of emergency in New York and New Jersey, coastal flooding, power outages and impact on flights. According to warnings from the Meteorological Department, the danger in coastal areas may persist till Sunday.