New York and New Jersey declared states of emergency as a powerful nor’easter brought severe coastal flooding, heavy rain, and damaging wind gusts to the Mid-Atlantic on September 25, 2026. Forecasters warned residents to stay off roads as the storm threatened widespread power outages and dangerous surf through the weekend.
Millions of people across the northeastern United States found themselves in the path of a persistent, slow-moving system arriving from the western Atlantic. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tracked the brewing coastal threat as it aligned with high astronomical tides. States of emergency were rushed into place across multiple jurisdictions in both New York and New Jersey as rising waters battered waterfront communities on Friday, September 25, 2026. On Sept. 25, 2026, in Gloucester, Mass., locals shifted an outdoor patio table away from the coastline as the nor’easter began.
Emergency Declarations and Targeted Counties in New York and New Jersey
Governors in both states moved quickly to mobilize emergency response networks ahead of the worst conditions. New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the state’s emergency declaration would cover Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Queens, Richmond, Suffolk, and Westchester Counties. In neighboring New Jersey, Governor Mikie Sherrill declared a state of emergency for Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Salem counties, effective at 5 p.m. Friday, September 25, 2026, according to a statement from nj.gov. Executive Order No. 25 names those eight counties as facing the storm’s most severe impacts.
The order activates New Jersey’s State Emergency Operations Center. According to nj.gov, this action connects the New Jersey State Police, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Environmental Protection, and local Offices of Emergency Management so they can coordinate emergency responses and share tracking data. Across the region, officials delivered blunt warnings urging residents to take the storm seriously.
“The Nor’easter is arriving as we speak,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a video posted on social media Friday afternoon. “We want everybody to be real smart. This is going to be a difficult storm between now and Monday morning. Lots of rain. Lots of flooding.”
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul
“Keep yourself safe,” Sherrill said in a video statement. “Check on your neighbors.”
Governor Mikie Sherrill
Coastal Inundation, Beach Erosion, and Power Outage Risks
By Friday morning, coastal areas were already experiencing severe beach erosion and tidal flooding before the emergency declarations officially took effect, abc7NY reported. In Ocean City, waves were already pounding the beach and pulling away sand, and officials worried erosion would worsen as the storm intensified, abc7NY reported. Some residents were moving vehicles to higher ground ahead of expected flooding. Water surrounds Sea Bright on multiple sides, and the mayor said officials were taking every precaution available.
Parts of Long Island faced anticipated wind gusts reaching 60 mph, with the National Weather Service (NWS) cautioning that downing trees and utility lines could trigger localized blackouts and dangerous travel conditions. According to tracking data from PowerOutage.us, nearly 150,000 households had lost electricity. Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration advised passengers to check their flight status with airlines, and more than 1,100 flights were delayed and about 400 were cancelled, according to FlightAware.
Public Safety Warnings and Travel Disruptions Across the Northeast
Emergency management officials stressed the extreme danger of driving through standing water. The NWS indicated the storm will track northward before looping back toward New Jersey over the weekend to deliver persistent waves of rain, strong winds, and coastal flooding, while authorities strongly urge the public to steer clear of inundated streets and deep water.
New York, New Jersey declare states of emergency as Nor'easter storm cancels events
“The heaviest rain is probably going to be from coastal Jersey, Long Island, up to Rhode Island, and eastern Massachusetts.”
Photo: ntd.com
National Weather Service
Saturday’s full moon was forecasted to exacerbate coastal inundation, submerging roadways and residential properties in the New Jersey towns of Manasquan and Surf City. Major public events felt the impact as well, with Reuters reporting on the storm. Sunday’s matchup between the Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs was pushed to next Friday as Boston-area games were postponed. A professional football match between Red Bull New York and St Louis City SC was also cancelled. Cancellation notices also hit the Global Citizen Festival in New York’s Central Park—which had planned appearances by John Legend, Wyclef Jean, and Lauryn Hill—along with a separate concert performance by Ed Sheeran. Local guidance from New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani cautioned inhabitants against non-essential trips and instructed them to stay out of flooded thoroughfares.
NYC, New Jersey Declare Emergency As Nor’easter Brings Flooding & 55 MPH Winds | LIVE
