Rare fall nor'easter slams the East Coast, cutting power for 70,000+ residents, with gusts up to 70 mph and flood warnings for Long Island and the Rockaways.

More than 70,000 customers lost electricity in the Northeast on Friday as a rare fall nor'easter slammed the Atlantic seaboard.

State officials said the storm is expected to produce wind gusts of 50 to 70 mph, heavy rain and coastal flooding through the weekend.

Coastal warnings

New York Governor Kathy Hochul warned of "mammoth waves" that could threaten low‑lying neighborhoods along Long Island and the Rockaways. She urged residents to avoid the shoreline and to secure outdoor items that could become projectiles.

Power outages and emergency response

Utility crews in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are working to restore service after downed lines knocked out power for tens of thousands of homes and businesses. The New York Power Authority said crews began repairs before dawn and would prioritize hospitals, emergency shelters and water treatment facilities.

In New Jersey, officials reported that storm‑driven waves eroded sections of the shoreline near Atlantic City, prompting temporary road closures. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection opened emergency shelters in three coastal towns.

Rainfall and flooding

Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches are expected across the Mid‑Atlantic, with localized amounts up to 6 inches in parts of Pennsylvania and Maryland. The National Weather Service issued flash‑flood warnings for river valleys in the region.

Police in Philadelphia responded to several reports of street flooding as water surged onto roadways, disrupting traffic and prompting detours.

Public safety advice

Officials advised residents to stay off flooded roads, avoid walking through moving water and keep emergency kits stocked with flashlights, batteries and non‑perishable food.

Governor Hochul reminded New Yorkers that the storm could linger into Sunday, and urged anyone without power to report outages to their utility provider and to check on vulnerable neighbors.

The nor'easter follows a series of severe weather events that have battered the East Coast this month, including a Category 5 hurricane that passed near the Caribbean. Meteorologists said the combination of high tides and strong winds makes this fall storm particularly dangerous for coastal communities.