September 2026 Nor'easter Triggers Coastal Flood and Wind

A September 2026 nor'easter is threatening coastal flooding and wind damage across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. The long-duration storm will bring 70-95 km/h winds and 25-100 mm of rain to southern New England from September 25 through the weekend. Millions across the region are bracing for the intense, multiday event.

Forecasters have high confidence in a long-duration onshore wind event that could bring significant coastal flooding. Coastal flood warnings and watches were in place from the North Carolina coast to New Jersey and Connecticut on Thursday evening. The storm's peak impacts are expected Friday evening into Saturday.

Coastal flooding threatens Virginia and Mid-Atlantic

Coastal Flood Warnings remain in effect across southeastern Virginia and extend into New Jersey and Delaware with 0.3-0.9 m of inundation expected. The National Weather Service forecasts 0.6-0.9 m of inundation in southeastern Virginia, where widespread moderate to locally major tidal flooding was expected to continue through the night of September 25. Inundation of 0.6-0.9 m above ground level was expected in vulnerable shoreline areas in Norfolk and surrounding cities.

Numerous road closures were possible and homes and businesses threatened in southeastern Virginia. The NWS Wakefield extended the Coastal Flood Warning for Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Chesapeake, Hampton and Poquoson until 11:00 EDT on September 26. Some sites around the middle Chesapeake Bay could continue to experience moderate coastal flooding into September 26 or 27.

In New Jersey and Delaware, Coastal Flood Warnings were extended until 14:00 EDT on September 26. The NWS forecast 0.3-0.6 m of inundation in low-lying shoreline and tidal-waterway areas there. Widespread roadway flooding and some damage to vulnerable structures were possible.

High winds and storm surge impact New England coast

The NWS issued High Wind Warnings for coastal Massachusetts and most of Rhode Island early on September 25. NWS Boston/Norton placed coastal and southeastern Massachusetts and all of Rhode Island except northwestern Providence County under High Wind Warnings from 08:00 EDT on September 25 until 02:00 EDT on September 27.

Northeasterly gusts of 70-95 km/h were forecast along the southern New England coast. A few locations on the islands could receive gusts of 105-110 km/h, depending on the storm track. Wind Advisories covered adjacent inland areas. Powerful winds risk toppling power lines and trees.

The NWS forecast a storm surge of 0.3-0.6 m, briefly near 0.8 m, with minor to locally moderate flooding possible during several high-tide cycles. A full moon Saturday night could intensify the tides and worsen the flooding. Coastal Flood Watches for eastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the islands were extended from the afternoon of September 25 through the evening of September 27.

Norfolk prepares for flooding impacts

In Norfolk, Virginia, municipal officials said on September 24 that crews were responding to roadway flooding, drainage problems, waste-collection disruptions and transportation impacts. Stormwater crews continued clearing drains and flooding-related blockages. The city activated designated higher-ground parking locations for residents. The York Street Garage was made available through 08:00 EDT on September 28.

The city warned that Hampton Boulevard near Surrey Crescent and Larchmont would become impassable at high tide and identified several other roads where tidal flooding was expected. High Surf Advisories also remained in effect along the southeastern Virginia coast through 19:00 EDT on September 25. Breaking waves of 2.4-3.7 m, dangerous rip currents and localized beach erosion were expected there.

Extended impacts across the region

Offshore, Storm Warnings were issued for all waters covered by NWS Boston/Norton, where gusts of 85-110 km/h and seas of 4.6-7.6 m were forecast. Breaking waves of 2.1-4.0 m were forecast along exposed Massachusetts beaches. Waves along the coast are expected to reach 12 feet in Ocean City, New Jersey, and up to 22 feet in New England.

NWS New York/Upton issued a Wind Advisory for New York City, Long Island, southern Westchester County and most of southern Connecticut from 14:00 EDT on September 25 until 06:00 EDT on September 27. The office forecast 75-125 mm of rain across Long Island and southern Connecticut and 25-75 mm elsewhere in its area through the weekend. Flash-flood concerns were expected to remain localized.

Coastal Flood Watches covered parts of New York City and Long Island for the high tides from the evening of September 25 into September 26. Moderate coastal flooding was possible, with an increasing risk of major flooding at some locations around the South Shore bays of Long Island. New York City Emergency Management issued a travel advisory starting at 2 p.m. Friday and through Sunday.

In Massachusetts, residents were seen this week hauling their boats out of the bay, worried about high tides and flooding. Boston warned of peak impacts from the storm Friday evening into Saturday. The Boston Red Sox moved Sunday’s game to Friday to avoid any weather-related delays. The New York Yankees moved Saturday’s home game with the Orioles to Friday for a doubleheader. One couple changed their wedding plans because of the storm, which had been set for a Massachusetts beach this weekend.

The highest rainfall totals are most likely from Rhode Island to eastern Massachusetts. The highest-rainfall corridor remained sensitive to small changes in the storm track. Forecast models Thursday disagreed on the storm’s exact track, and forecasts indicated the storm could move closer to New York than first thought. Coastal flooding and high winds are expected to continue through the weekend.