The nor’easter that battered New York City, Long Island and Westchester from Friday, September 25 through Sunday, September 27, 2026, pulled away Monday. It left downed trees, scattered power outages and coastal flooding in waterfront neighborhoods. The storm prompted a State of Emergency across eight counties and a citywide Travel Advisory.
Key Takeaways
- Governor Kathy Hochul declared a State of Emergency for the Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Queens, Richmond, Suffolk and Westchester counties and activated the State Emergency Operations Center.
- Wind gusts reached 45 mph citywide on Saturday and 55 mph at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
- Hamilton Beach, Howard Beach and Broad Channel in Queens and South Beach on Staten Island saw some of the worst flooding.
- A 56-year-old NYCHA employee, Leighton Brown, was struck and killed by a falling tree in East New York on Saturday afternoon.
- About 2,500 New York City customers were without power at one point Sunday morning, according to NYC Emergency Management.
- The storm canceled several weekend events, including the Global Citizen Festival, Sneaker Con and the Yankees’ final regular-season game.
State and City Officials Moved Early as the Storm Track Shifted West
Emergency preparations began before the nor’easter arrived. On Thursday, September 24, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and New York City Emergency Management issued a Travel Advisory from 2 p.m. Friday through Sunday morning. The National Weather Service had just shifted the storm’s projected track farther west and closer to the city. Rainfall forecasts jumped from about 1 to 1.5 inches to 2 to 3 inches citywide, and projected wind gusts rose to 40 to 50 mph.
“The forecast path of this storm has moved closer to our city, and it is bringing more rain and stronger winds with it,” Mayor Mamdani said. He added that city workers were clearing catch basins, preparing for downed trees and positioning emergency resources in areas vulnerable to coastal flooding. The mayor also urged basement apartment residents to know their way out and be ready to move to a higher floor.
Governor Hochul declared the State of Emergency on Friday as the storm began reaching the coast. “A dangerous nor’easter is already bearing down on the coastal areas of Long Island, New York City and Westchester County,” Governor Hochul said. The state’s Office of Fire Prevention and Control pre-staged high-axle vehicles and swift water rescue teams. MTA Bridges and Tunnels banned empty tractor-trailers and tandem trucks from 12:01 a.m. Saturday until 2 a.m. Sunday because of high winds.
Coastal Queens and Staten Island Took the Brunt of the Flooding
The flooding followed a familiar map. NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Christina Farrell had flagged the Friday evening and Saturday morning high tides as the main threats, especially in the Rockaways, around Jamaica Bay, and along the Staten Island and Brooklyn shorelines. Those warnings held up. Hamilton Beach, Howard Beach and Broad Channel in Queens, along with South Beach on Staten Island, saw the worst of the water. Floodwaters also reached Beach 25th Street in Far Rockaway and parts of Coney Island.
Many of these neighborhoods still carry the memory of Superstorm Sandy. They sit at the edge of Jamaica Bay and the Atlantic, where even a moderate surge can push water into streets, driveways and basements. The city activated its Flash Flood Emergency Plan ahead of the storm, and agencies worked with businesses and contractors to secure construction sites and outdoor equipment.
Downed Trees Defined the Weekend’s Damage Inland
Winds did the most damage away from the coastline. Trees were still in full leaf, and soil was saturated after a day of rain, which made them easier to topple. The NYC Parks Department responded to hundreds of reports of downed trees and heavy limbs. Commissioner Farrell said the damage was particularly heavy in Queens.
The storm also turned deadly. Leighton Brown, a 56-year-old NYCHA employee, was struck and killed by a falling tree in East New York on Saturday afternoon. Officials said it was not immediately clear whether the storm’s winds caused the tree to fall.
Power outages stayed limited within the five boroughs, peaking at about 2,500 customers Sunday morning. Long Island communities reported heavier tree damage and more widespread outages. The MTA positioned debris trains and generators to protect the transit system, and city emergency officials reported no subway service issues during the height of the storm.
Weekend Events and Local Businesses Absorbed the Disruption
The nor’easter arrived on one of the busiest weekends of the fall calendar. Organizers canceled the Global Citizen Festival and Sneaker Con, and the Yankees’ final regular-season game was called off because of weather. For vendors, venues and hospitality businesses that had staffed up and stocked for those crowds, lost revenue adds to the cost of cleanup.
Other events went ahead in modified form. The 25th Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk proceeded Sunday morning from Red Hook to Lower Manhattan, with organizers telling participants to dress for wet conditions.
For waterfront small businesses, the recovery timeline depends on how much water reached ground floors and basements. The same week, the state secured a U.S. Small Business Administration disaster declaration for upstate counties hit by July flooding. That declaration shows the federal process that follows once damage assessments are complete.
Monday Brought Clearing Skies and One Last Flood Watch
By Monday, September 28, the nor’easter was moving away from the region. Showers lingered in the morning, mostly north of New York City, and coastal flood advisories stayed in effect for the Monday morning high tide. NYC Emergency Management expected 1 to 1.5 feet of water above ground in vulnerable coastal areas. On Long Island, moderate flooding remained possible in Freeport, and forecasters expected conditions to turn largely dry by evening.
Cleanup is now the focus. Parks crews continue to clear fallen trees across Queens and Brooklyn, while waterfront residents assess flood damage. The storm was weaker than Sandy, but it hit the same shorelines that have flooded repeatedly for more than a decade.
FAQs
Which counties were under the New York State of Emergency?
Governor Hochul declared a State of Emergency for the Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Queens, Richmond, Suffolk and Westchester counties. The declaration covered all five boroughs of New York City, Long Island and Westchester.
How strong were the winds during the nor’easter in NYC?
Wind gusts reached up to 45 mph across the city on Saturday and 55 mph at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Forecasters had predicted gusts of 40 to 50 mph from Friday night through Saturday night.
Which NYC neighborhoods flooded the worst?
Hamilton Beach, Howard Beach and Broad Channel in Queens, along with South Beach on Staten Island, saw some of the worst flooding. Flooding also reached parts of Far Rockaway and Coney Island.
Is the nor’easter over?
The storm was pulling away from the region on Monday, September 28, with lingering showers mostly north of the city. Coastal flood advisories remained in effect for Monday morning’s high tide, and conditions were expected to be largely dry by evening.
How can New Yorkers get emergency alerts for future storms?
New York City residents can sign up for Notify NYC, the city’s free emergency alert system, by texting NOTIFYNYC to 692-692. Basement apartment residents can also sign up for automated flooding alerts through the same service.
