A powerful nor’easter has dumped heavy rain and high waves across the northeastern United States, flooding low‑lying coastal towns and cutting power to thousands of homes. The storm, which has been tracked by the National Weather Service since early Tuesday, has already overwhelmed drainage systems in several states.

Storm surge and flooding

According to Al Jazeera, streets in Boston and Providence were submerged to waist‑deep levels overnight, and the Cape Cod Canal reported water rising over the road in several spots. Residents in coastal communities reported standing water in front of houses and, in some cases, water entering basements.

Homes across New England are now without power as the storm continues to batter the coast.

ABC News noted that the storm’s surge reached up to two metres in parts of the New Hampshire coast, a level that has not been seen in the region in over a decade. The surge, combined with sustained winds of up to 70 km h‑1, has caused erosion and damage to low‑lying infrastructure.

Power cuts and emergency response

Power utilities report outages affecting an estimated 50 000 customers in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. The grid, already strained by the heat wave that preceded the storm, was unable to cope with the sudden surge of load from backup generators and emergency lighting.

flooded street in Boston

State emergency services have dispatched crews to clear debris and restore power. The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency has called on residents to avoid flooded roads and to stay away from utility poles. In Rhode Island, the police department has set up evacuation points in towns that have suffered the most flooding.

Safety warnings and community impact

Officials are urging people to stay indoors and to avoid low‑lying areas until the storm passes. The National Weather Service has issued a coastal flood watch that extends into the next 48 hours, warning of continued high tides and heavy rain. The United States Coast Guard has been monitoring for any potential rescues in the Boston harbour, where several boats have taken on water.

Local councils have opened community shelters in affected towns. In Worcester, the city council has opened the high‑rise community centre to house residents who have lost power. The shelters are providing hot meals and blankets, with the expectation that power will be restored by the end of the week.

Looking ahead

Weather analysts predict that the storm will linger over the region until Sunday, with a chance of additional rainfall as it moves inland. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) warns that the combination of heavy rain and high tides could create conditions for flash flooding in inland valleys as well. The United States Department of Energy has asked the power grid operators to prepare for a possible prolonged outage, citing the recent strain on the system.

In the longer term, city planners are reviewing the resilience of coastal infrastructure. The American Society of Civil Engineers has called for an urgent review of flood defence systems in the New England corridor. The storm has highlighted the vulnerability of the region’s ageing power and drainage networks to extreme weather.