Nor'easter Knocks Out Power for 70,000 Across US Northeast

A powerful nor'easter bore down on the US Northeast on Saturday, leaving more than 70,000 customers without electricity as forecasters warned of gale-force winds and coastal flooding that could submerge roads and threaten homes and businesses through the weekend.

Tens of millions of people lie in the storm's path. The National Weather Service said dangerous flooding was expected along the Mid-Atlantic coast, especially near New Jersey and Delaware, with significant inundation possible across multiple high tide cycles.

"This storm is expected to bring major coastal flooding to the Mid-Atlantic Coast over multiple high tide cycles through the weekend," the weather service said, urging residents of low-lying shore areas to prepare immediately.

In Surf City, a coastal New Jersey borough, water rippled across flooded streets and seeped into some homes. About 34 miles up the coast in Manasquan, where roads were also under water, Mayor Mike Mangan said he expected "a lot of water in the streets for a long time." A voluntary evacuation had earlier been issued for some low-lying sections of the community.

Sea Bright, a small beach borough, braced for winds of up to 50 mph and street flooding that could reach 6 feet. Mayor Brian Kelly said the flooding was likely to begin Saturday and worsen by midday, and he hoped hundreds of residents in low-lying areas would consider evacuating. The town planned to open its recreation center to evacuees.

"It's going to be worse than average," Kelly said, adding that he expected conditions closer to the flooding seen during Hurricane Irene in 2011. "I hope I'm wrong, but that's my gut feeling."

Peak wind gusts could approach 60 to 65 mph on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, compared with about 50 to 55 mph around Boston and 35 to 40 mph farther inland, according to meteorologist Matthew Belk of the weather service's Norton, Massachusetts office.

"It's definitely going to be a case of the closer to the coast you are, the more impacts from the storm you're likely to see," Belk said. He noted that nor'easters are not unusual as New England moves into autumn, but that leaves still on the trees this early in the season add wind resistance, raising the risk of downed limbs that can cut power and litter roads.

Along the Atlantic coasts of New Jersey and Delaware, gusts could reach 60 mph, with similarly strong winds possible in southeastern Connecticut and eastern Long Island, New York, where falling tree limbs and power lines were a concern.

Travel and entertainment plans were upended. More than 200 flights to and from Boston, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard and New York were canceled Friday, with further cancellations already scheduled for Saturday. Several airlines offered to waive some change or cancellation fees for East Coast flights through the weekend. Concerts were also called off.

The Boston Red Sox adjusted their weekend series against the Chicago Cubs, moving Sunday's afternoon game to Friday to create a split doubleheader. Ed Sheeran announced that his Friday and Saturday shows at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, were canceled because of the storm.

Ferry services were widely disrupted. The public ferry linking Cape Cod with Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard saw widespread cancellations Friday amid strong winds and choppy water, and Block Island ferries in Rhode Island were also canceled, with the disruptions expected to spill into Saturday.

Sean Driscoll, a spokesperson for the Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority, said island travelers treat the possibility of being stranded on one side or the other as "part of life," and most have backup plans when boats are canceled.

"It's a nuisance, but you know, we know what to do with this kind of stuff at this point," he said. "This is not out of the realm of ordinary."

In Gloucester, a coastal city in northern Massachusetts, Ashley Destino took a beach stroll with her two young children before preparing to stay indoors for the weekend. She said she had Legos and arts and crafts ready for her children, ages 7 and 4, secured her boat with extra lines, and her husband readied a generator in case the power failed.