Rare September Nor’easter set to slam East Coast with heavy rain, damaging winds
Add to GoogleMore Storms Flood New Mexico; East Coast Braces for Nor'easter04:09Get more newsonShareAdd NBC News to GoogleSept. 24, 2026, 9:40 AM EDTBy Rebecca Cohen, Sam Brock and Kathryn ProcivMillions across the Northeast are bracing for an intense, multi-day Nor’easter this weekend that is forecast to bring heavy rain and strong wind gusts to the East Coast.
Forecast models still disagree on the storm’s exact track, but one thing is clear: wherever it goes, it will hit the region hard. Forecasters have high confidence in a long-duration onshore wind event that could bring significant coastal flooding.
Coastal flood warnings and high wind watches are already in place along much of the East Coast, with more alerts likely to be issued throughout the day Thursday.
The highest rainfall totals — 2 to 3 inches or more — are most likely from Rhode Island to eastern Massachusetts.
Powerful winds, including gusts up to 50-60 mph, risk toppling power lines and trees. Small shifts in the storm’s track will determine where outages and downed trees are most likely to occur.
Coastal flooding is expected to run 1 to 3 feet above high tide, and a full moon Saturday night could intensify the tides and worsen the flooding. Waves along the coast are expected to reach 12 feet in Ocean City, New Jersey, and up to 22 feet in New England.
Moderate to major flooding is likely from North Carolina to Nantucket, Massachusetts, with southeastern Virginia — particularly the Virginia Beach-to-Norfolk area — at highest risk for major coastal inundation of 1 to 3 feet.
Meanwhile, a separate storm is already pummeling the Eastern Seaboard, generating high winds and rough surf.
In Massachusetts, residents were seen this week hauling their boats out of the bay, worried about high tides and flooding from the Nor’easter. One person told NBC News he’d been “prepping all week for both wind and water.”
One couple even changed their wedding plans because of the storm — they had been set to marry this weekend on a Massachusetts beach.
And the Boston Red Sox moved Sunday’s game — the season finale — up to Friday to avoid any weather-related delays or cancellations.
Add to GoogleHurricane Polo fuels fears of heavy rain and landslides in Mexico’s southwest00:52In New Jersey, crews cleared debris from storm drains and flood-prone areas as emergency management officials urged residents to prepare for the incoming storm. Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden recommended charging devices and stocking up on batteries ahead of possible power outages.
Elsewhere in the country, days of heavy rain in the Southwest have triggered major flooding, sending muddy waters sweeping through the streets of New Mexico. The El Paso, Texas, fire department said it has responded to more than 50 storm-related calls.
Off the coast of Hawaii’s Big Island, Tropical Storm Nolo threatens heavy rain and flash flooding, with more than 30 inches of rain possible in some areas. Extreme rainfall remains the storm’s biggest risk.
Nolo currently has sustained winds of 50 mph and is expected to strengthen into a hurricane by Thursday night — potentially reaching Category 3 strength. As of the latest update, the storm was about 285 miles south of South Point, Hawaii, moving north at 2 mph.
Nolo is not expected to make direct landfall in Hawaii, but it could come close enough to bring tropical-storm-force winds to the Big Island and Maui as early as Thursday night, with hurricane-force winds possible by Friday night.
Rebecca CohenRebecca Cohen is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.
Sam BrockSam Brock is an NBC News correspondent.
Kathryn ProcivKathryn Prociv is a senior meteorologist and producer for NBC News.
