US Northeast storm cancels flights and cuts power to thousands

A powerful autumn storm system known as a Nor’easter has struck the north-eastern United States, bringing heavy rain and destructive winds that have grounded hundreds of flights, knocked out electricity for tens of thousands of residents, and forced the cancellation of major public events across multiple states, according to reporting from The Straits Times.

The severe weather system targeted major metropolitan hubs including New York, Boston, and Philadelphia. Authorities issued urgent warnings regarding potential major flooding and hazardous road closures as the storm intensified. According to Adnkronos and AFP reporting via Jiji Press, the National Weather Service forecast severe coastal flooding along the Mid-Atlantic coast spanning multiple high tide cycles.

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul addressed the press to emphasize the severity of the maritime conditions. Conditions are extremely dangerous. Anyone who goes in or near the water this weekend is literally gambling with their life, Hochul said, later adding that waves reaching up to six metres high were anticipated along coastal areas. Governor Hochul noted that the storm was bearing down directly on coastal parts of New York City and Long Island.

Rainfall totals are expected to be substantial. Up to 15 centimetres of rain is projected for Long Island over the coming days. In Massachusetts, communities including Boston braced for nearly 13 centimetres of rain, an amount exceeding a typical month’s worth of precipitation. Wind gusts along the New England coast are expected to reach up to 105 kmh.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani issued safety appeals to residents of the nation’s most populous city, advising against all non-essential travel due to strong wind gusts and the hazard of downed power lines. Ground-level disruptions expanded rapidly as utility monitoring tools recorded over 95,000 customers experiencing blackouts across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.

Aviation hubs faced immediate pressure as flight tracking data captured widespread disruption. Reporting on airport ground stops differed slightly between outlets; The Straits Times noted 130 cancellations at Boston’s Logan airport via Flight Aware, whereas Adnkronos documented 253 cancellations at the same facility using the FlightAware tracking service. Major carriers such as JetBlue, United, and American responded by issuing travel advisories allowing passengers to modify flight schedules without incurring additional fees. Meanwhile, Singapore Airlines confirmed to reporters that none of its services were impacted by the adverse weather.

Cultural and diplomatic events also felt the impact. The United Nations, which is hosting world leaders for the General Assembly, instructed media organizations to clear broadcasting equipment from outside its New York headquarters due to high winds. High-profile outdoor gatherings were called off, including the Global Citizen festival in Central Park—slated to feature performers such as Lenny Kravitz, Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys, Lainey Wilson, and Shaboozey—alongside the All Things Go festival in New York and Oceans Calling in Maryland. Safety has to come first. This is the first time in 14 years we’ve had to cancel, noted the organisers of the Central Park concert. British pop singer Ed Sheeran's weekend concerts near Boston were likewise cancelled.

Meteorological experts note that Nor’easters occur throughout the year but are concentrated between autumn and early spring, almost always accompanied by heavy rain, snowfall, and strong winds. The region previously faced a disruptive Nor’easter earlier in the year, which followed closely after a severe winter weather system linked to over one hundred deaths.