With a rare September nor’easter battering the East Coast, a flood watch remains in effect through late Monday for much of Rhode Island and parts of Massachusetts, the National Weather Service said.
“Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible,” the NWS said in an alert issued early Sunday. “Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks.”
A flood watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flooding. It does not mean flooding will occur, but it alerts people in flood prone areas that flooding is possible.
The NWS had dropped all wind advisories as of Sunday morning.
Rain is expected to continue into Monday, with wind gusts 25-35 MPH.
Rhode Island hunkered down for the storm at the end of the week but by Sunday morning it appeared the mid-Atlantic states may have seen the worst effects.
Videos posted on social media Saturday showed streets inundated with water in New Jersey, and massive waves hitting the coast. In New York City, people were seen kayaking in the streets. New Jersey and New York declared states of emergency in counties across the two states, including in New York City.
Some low-lying coastal areas in Rhode Island experienced flooding on Saturday. Police departments in Newport and Narragansett reported closing some coastal roads. Images on social media showed flooding on Potter Pond in South Kingstown and Watch Hill in Westerly.
A coastal flood watch remained in effect until 8 p.m. Sunday.
“Splashover and minor coastal flooding is expected in the lowest lying areas along the south coast of Rhode Island and Massachusetts over multiple high tide cycles late today through this weekend,” the NWS alert said. “A few immediate coastal roads may briefly flood due to wave action. In addition...minor beach erosion is also possible.”
Roughly 1,500 people were without power as of 8 a.m. Sunday, according to Rhode Island Energy.
The utility said 31,000 customers were impacted by power outages overnight Friday.
State emergency officials said emergency shelters are open for those without power or who need a place to weather the storm. Four shelters in Providence have extended their hours.
