A strong nor’easter is hitting parts of Connecticut this weekend with rain, strong winds and coastal flooding. The storm is also affecting other parts of the Northeast, including New York, New Jersey and southern New England.
The National Weather Service said the region should expect a “prolonged stretch” of wet and windy conditions through the weekend.
Parts of Connecticut could see wind gusts of 40 to 55 mph, which will likely result in power outages.
Parts of southern Connecticut could see up to 3 inches of rain, while southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod could see up to 6 inches.
“Beach erosion, coastal flooding, and wind damage including downed limbs and power outages are our main concerns,” the weather service said about the storm’s impacts across southern New England.
As of Saturday evening, more than 15,000 customers were without power across Connecticut, Eversource reported. Clinton, Madison, Mansfield and New London were just a few of the towns with outages.
Road closures were reported Saturday evening due to downed trees or power lines, particularly in eastern Connecticut, including Colchester, Lebanon and Lisbon, according to the state's CTroads transportation site. Officials are warning motorists never to drive through flooded roads and instead to turn around.
The storm led many towns and organizations across the region to cancel or postpone weekend events and festivals.
The state of Connecticut has activated its Emergency Operations Center, where state leaders and agencies coordinate information and resources to manage emergency situations.
Gov. Ned Lamont said the state’s emergency management team has been holding coordination calls with towns across the state in advance of the storm.
“We are closely monitoring the track of this storm and any potential impacts it may have in Connecticut and are preparing with our partners, including municipalities, utilities, and others,” Lamont said in a statement. “I encourage everyone in Connecticut to be prepared and stay alert for updates throughout this weekend as conditions progress, especially in Fairfield and New Haven Counties, where areas of coastal flooding are possible.”
A wind advisory is in effect through Sunday morning for most of Connecticut and much of southern New England. A high wind warning is in effect for coastal Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
A coastal flood warning is in effect from 6 p.m. Friday through 6 p.m. Sunday for southern New Haven and Fairfield counties. The weather service expects potential flooding of vulnerable areas near the waterfront and shoreline, including roads, parking lots, parks and homes and businesses with basements near the waterfront. Road closures are likely.
High winds have the potential to knock down trees and branches onto electric lines, leading to damage and power outages. Eversource is bringing in outside crews to help assist with potential outages.
“We will have hundreds of line and tree crews in position around the state and ready to respond as quickly and safely as possible to whatever this storm may bring,” said Don Scacco, Eversource president of Connecticut electric operations. “And we’ll stay on the job until every affected customer has their power back.”
Wherever you are in Connecticut, plan accordingly, said Garett Argianas, Connecticut Public’s meteorologist.
“Weekend plans are going to be a challenge as damp and windy weather is expected with a coastal storm,” Argianas said. “Rain will be moderate to heavy at times, so localized flooding is possible. Watch for puddles on the roads, as some storm drains are clogged with leaves. If possible, try to clear any storm drains in your area ahead of the rain.”
Coastal flooding could be minor or moderate in areas, Argianas said. That’s because tides are already going to be astronomically high this weekend, while a persistent northeasterly wind will push water into the Long Island Sound.
Storm disrupts concerts, baseball and flights across New England
More than 200 flights to and from airports in Boston, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard and New York had been canceled Friday, and more cancellations were already in place for Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox announced their weekend series against the Chicago Cubs would be adjusted. The team moved the Sunday afternoon game to Friday to create a split doubleheader. Separately, Ed Sheeran announced that his high-profile Friday and Saturday shows at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, would be canceled due to the storm.
The public ferry service connecting Cape Cod with the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard was experiencing widespread cancellations Friday due to strong winds and choppy water.
In Rhode Island, ferries were also canceled for Block Island. The disrupted ferry service was expected to also spill into Saturday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
