Full Breakdown
Dual Coastal Threats: Nor’easter Slams the East Coast While Hurricane Nolo Circles Hawaii
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Weather Events
A powerful nor’easter surged along the Atlantic seaboard this weekend, bringing gale-force winds, heavy rain and coastal flooding from the Mid-Atlantic up through New England. At the same time, Hurricane Nolo hovered south of the Hawaiian Islands, threatening torrential rainfall, storm surge and wind damage on the Big Island and Maui. Both systems affected tens of millions of people across the United States within a few days of each other.
Background & Context
The Pacific’s “super” El Niño has fueled an unusually active hurricane season, producing 18 named storms by late September—a record for this point in the year. The same El Niño pattern suppresses Atlantic hurricane formation, leaving the East Coast vulnerable to extratropical systems such as the nor’easter that developed along a stalled frontal boundary.
Data & Statistics
- Power outages: Roughly 100,000 customers lost electricity across the Northeast, with the highest concentrations in New York, Connecticut and New Jersey.
- Wind gusts: The nor’easter produced gusts of 60–70 mph along coastal New Jersey and Long Island, while the Hawaiian islands faced sustained winds of 90–105 mph as Nolo intensified.
- Rainfall: Forecasts for the Big Island ranged from 10 to 35 inches; the nor’easter delivered 2–5 inches across Long Island and southern New England, with localized amounts exceeding 8 inches.
- Storm surge: Nolo’s surge was projected at 1–3 feet; the nor’easter’s high tide raised water levels 2–4 feet above normal along the New Jersey shoreline.
Official Statements & Responses
- Federal: President Donald Trump approved an emergency declaration for Hawaii, authorizing FEMA to coordinate federal assistance.
- State (Hawaii): Governor Josh Green issued an emergency proclamation, activating more than 230 Hawaii National Guard members and ordering schools to close on the Big Island and Maui.
- Local (Hawaii): Mayor Kimo Alameda urged residents to complete preparations, stay connected to alerts and secure safe shelter before flooding strikes.
- National Hurricane Center: Director Michael Brennan warned residents to shelter in place and avoid venturing into flooding or high-wind areas.
- New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill issued an emergency order for eight counties. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani advised residents to heed travel advisories and avoid coastal flooding.
On-the-Ground Reports
Residents on both coasts described rapidly rising waters, downed trees and disrupted travel. In New Jersey’s Surf City, marina owner Kenny Formica watched floodwaters engulf his facility, while in Brooklyn a 56-year-old city-housing employee was killed by a falling tree. On Hawaii’s Big Island, homeowners filled sandbags, and volunteers distributed camp stoves and hygiene kits through the nonprofit CORE.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Rainfall forecasts for Nolo differed among agencies: some models projected up to 25 inches on the Big Island, while others warned of totals as high as 35 inches. The storm’s intensity was reported as a Category 2 hurricane with 105 mph winds by the National Hurricane Center, yet CBS News later described Nolo as a Category 1 system with 90 mph sustained winds as it moved westward. These discrepancies highlight the challenges of predicting a slow-moving cyclone interacting with variable ocean temperatures.