A powerful nor’easter made its way along the East Coast on Sunday, prompting New Jersey to declare a state of emergency. Airports faced delays and cancellations due to expected coastal flooding and strong winds, while another storm system brought heavy rain and flooding to the southern regions.
Meteorologist Bob Oravec from the National Weather Service in College Park, Maryland, noted that the most significant impact would be the potential for coastal flooding, particularly from northeastern North Carolina to much of the New Jersey shore.
Oravec mentioned that heavy rainfall was also predicted for southeast New England and the New York City area, with some precipitation already recorded in coastal parts of South Carolina.
In North Carolina’s Outer Banks, a region that has suffered substantial storm damage this season, ocean overwash began covering Highway 12 near a motel in Buxton, as reported online by the Dare County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday. Travelers were advised to exercise caution, and property owners were warned as high tide neared.
The entire state of New Jersey has been under a state of emergency since Saturday night, anticipated to extend into Monday. This measure allows the mobilization of the state’s emergency services as required.
Certain areas in the state could see moderate to major coastal flooding, inland flash flooding, wind gusts up to 60 mph (97 kph), rainfall up to 5 inches (about 13 centimeters), and high surf, raising concerns of beach erosion. Volunteers were seen fortifying beaches with sandbags.
The National Weather Service placed New York City, Long Island and southern Westchester County under a coastal flood warning and wind advisory through at least Monday afternoon. Coastal areas of suburban Long Island could see flooding, with up to 3 inches (about 8 centimeters) of rain and lashing winds expected, the weather service said.
Wind gusts of more than 30 mph (48 kph) were already being recorded in the region on Sunday morning.
Utilities in the area have added more than 1,600 workers to respond to the storm.
“With high wind warnings and flood risks, staying alert, vigilant and taking steps to prepare is crucial for everyone’s safety,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement.
Some flight delays and cancellations were announced in airports from Washington, D.C. to Boston.
The storm was expected to move out by Monday night.
Also Sunday, high wind warnings remained in effect in parts of Alaska as the remnants of Typhoon Halong continued to move up the state’s west coast. The storm was tracking farther east than previously forecast, pushing the strongest winds inland and reducing the risk of record-high water levels in the Norton Sound, according to the National Weather Service.
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Associated Press reporters Julie Walker and Michael Hill contributed to this story.
