The situation
The vibes are officially off on the East Coast this weekend. A massive nor'easter is currently tearing through the region, leaving thousands without power and turning coastal streets into literal rivers. Tens of millions of people are in the path of the storm, which is currently lashing the coast with intense wind and rain.
Local impacts
New Jersey is getting hit hard. In Manasquan, floodwaters are already hitting the streets, and Mayor Mike Mangan is warning residents that the water is going to stick around for a while. Over in Sea Bright, Mayor Brian Kelly is highkey concerned. He told the community to prepare for winds up to 50 mph and flooding that could reach 6 feet, comparing the potential damage to Hurricane Irene. The town is opening its recreation center as an emergency shelter for anyone in low-lying areas.
Further north, meteorologists at the National Weather Service are tracking wind gusts that could hit 65 mph around Cape Cod and the islands. Because it’s still early in the season, trees are still full of leaves, which means they’re catching more wind and likely to drop limbs onto power lines.
Travel and event chaos
If you had weekend plans, the plot thickens. Hundreds of flights in and out of Boston, New York, and the islands have been scrapped. Ferry services to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard are basically dead in the water, and Ed Sheeran fans are officially out of luck after he canceled his Gillette Stadium shows. Even the Red Sox had to shake up their schedule, moving their Sunday game to Friday to avoid the worst of the mess.
Why it matters
This storm is a major inconvenience, no cap. Between the power outage risks and travel cancellations, it’s going to be a long weekend. If you’re on the coast, make sure your devices are charged and you have a backup plan for when the power inevitably dips. Stay safe and maybe just lean into the indoor main character energy until it passes.
