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The Northeast of the United States was hit by heavy rains and strong winds on Saturday as an exceptional autumn storm intensified, causing the cancellation of hundreds of flights and power outages for tens of thousands of Americans.
The areas affected by the "Nor'easter" storm included major cities such as New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, while authorities warned of flood risks and road closures.
The US National Weather Service predicted that the storm would "cause major flooding along the mid-Atlantic coast, and high tides until the end of the week".
It said, "Prepare immediately for major flooding in low-lying areas near the coast, with the possibility of roads being submerged and homes and commercial establishments being affected."
More than 95,000 customers in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania lost power by 3:00 PM Saturday (20:00 GMT), according to the "PowerOutage" website, which monitors power outages.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said the storm was heading towards the coastal areas of New York City and Long Island, warning that "the rain has already started... and believe me, the worst is yet to come."
She added that some areas of Long Island could see up to 15 centimeters of rain in the coming days, with waves reaching up to 20 feet (about six meters) high.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel due to strong winds and the potential for falling power lines.
The storm led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights, 130 of them at Boston's Logan Airport alone, according to FlightAware data.
Major airlines, including JetBlue, United, and American Airlines, issued travel alerts allowing passengers to modify their bookings without additional fees.
The weather also prompted the United Nations to ask media covering the General Assembly meetings to remove broadcasting equipment from around the organization's headquarters in New York due to strong winds.
Several cultural and musical events, including the Global Citizen and All Things Go festivals in New York, and the Oceans Calling festival in Maryland, were canceled, as were concerts by British singer Ed Sheeran near Boston.
Areas in North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey have been experiencing flooding for days.
Nor'easter storms are a well-known weather phenomenon on the East Coast of the United States, occurring frequently between autumn and early spring, and are often accompanied by heavy rain or snow and strong winds.
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