Powerful nor’easter floods Northeast and knocks out power

A powerful, slow-moving nor’easter battered the U.S. East Coast over the weekend, bringing coastal flooding, heavy rain and damaging winds from the mid-Atlantic to New England.

Floodwaters covered roads in New Jersey and New York, where people were seen kayaking through some streets. Along the New Jersey coast, rising water entered homes and marinas, displaced boats and eroded beaches. New Jersey and New York declared states of emergency in affected areas, including New York City. The Guardian reported that at least one person was killed in New York City and that eight New Jersey counties remained under a state of emergency.

Power outages increased as the storm progressed. About 80,000 customers across New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Massachusetts were without electricity Saturday evening, according to PowerOutage.com figures cited by NPR. Later reports put the regional total above 100,000, while The Guardian said hundreds of thousands had lost power over the course of the storm.

The storm also disrupted transportation and public events. More than 1,000 flights were canceled Saturday and thousands were delayed, NPR reported. Amtrak canceled several trains, ferry service was disrupted, and concerts, a music festival and a Boston Red Sox game were canceled or rescheduled.

The National Weather Service forecast prolonged strong winds, with coastal gusts near 60 mph in Massachusetts. CBS News reported hurricane-force gusts in some locations and rainfall totals exceeding eight inches in others. Officials warned that additional high tides could cause further flooding as the storm continued into the early part of the week.