A powerful nor’easter swept up the East Coast on Sunday, flooding roads and disrupting air travel as densely populated parts of the Northeast prepared for heavy rain, strong winds, and coastal flooding.
“The greatest effects are going to be the coastal flooding potential, especially for areas from northeastern North Carolina northward to much of the New Jersey coast,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Bob Oravec in College Park, Maryland, according to the AP.
Heavy rain was also expected in southeastern New England and the New York City area, with some rainfall already reported along coastal regions farther south. In North Carolina’s Outer Banks—a region already battered by storms this season—ocean overwash began spilling across Highway 12 near Buxton, the Dare County Sheriff’s Office reported online Sunday. Officials warned travelers to exercise caution and alerted property owners as high tide approached.
At Buxton, waves slammed into the shoreline, threatening several beachfront homes. One house was losing its pilings and appeared close to collapse. “The waves are crashing really hard into the houses and the dunes, and it’s all eroding,” said Robert Splawn, observing the scene from the beach.
In Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, heavy rainfall overwhelmed the stormwater system, causing several road closures. Authorities urged residents to stay home.
All of New Jersey has been under a state of emergency since Saturday night, expected to last into Monday, allowing the activation of the state’s emergency personnel as needed. On Long Island, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman declared a state of emergency Sunday due to the threat of high waves pushing water into bays and waterways.
Forecasters warned that parts of the region could face moderate to severe coastal flooding, inland flash flooding, winds up to 60 mph, up to five inches of rain, and high surf capable of eroding beaches. Volunteers were busy placing sandbags along the shorelines in preparation.