Thursday, October 1, 2026
The nor’easter continued to pound the South Shore on Sunday, leaving both Wantagh and Seaford dealing with heavy rains, strong winds, downed trees, and flooding concerns as high tides continued to push water into vulnerable areas.
The National Weather Service issued a coastal flood warning for southern Nassau County through Sunday, warning of 2½ to 3 feet of inundation above ground level in vulnerable areas near the waterfront and shoreline. A wind advisory also remained in effect, with north winds of 25 to 35 mph and gusts reaching up to 55 mph.
The storm's effects were already being felt in the Wantagh area Friday afternoon, when a large tree fell on the Wantagh State Parkway between Sunrise Highway and the Southern State Parkway. New York State Police responded shortly after 3 p.m., and the roadway was cleared in less than an hour.
In Wantagh, a tree that fell on Homestead Avenue around 4 p.m. Saturday brought down power lines, leaving live wires on the ground and sparks that started a small fire in the grass. A resident who spoke with the Herald said firefighters at the scene warned that the neighborhood could remain without power until Monday as crews worked to repair the damage.
The Town of Hempstead also reported widespread storm-related activity as the nor’easter moved through the area. Supervisor John Ferretti said Saturday morning that the town had received reports of 19 downed trees overnight, with town crews working through the night to clear roads. He also said flooding was affecting parts of the South Shore, particularly in the Freeport and Island Park areas.
The storm brought strong winds and heavy, driving rain across Long Island, with gusts reaching about 45 mph in the Hempstead area Saturday morning. Officials warned that additional trees could come down as saturated ground and continued winds created hazardous conditions.
For Wantagh and Seaford, the storm also posed a particular concern because of the communities' proximity to the South Shore's waterways. The National Weather Service warned that the combination of the storm and high astronomical tides could produce significant flooding in vulnerable coastal locations.
PSEG Long Island reported nearly 600 outages affecting more than 15,000 customers Saturday morning as heavy rain and winds moved across the region. The utility warned residents to stay away from downed power lines and report outages.
The nor’easter was expected to continue affecting the region Sunday, with lingering rain, gusty winds and coastal flooding possible around additional high tides. Forecasters said the full moon was contributing to higher-than-normal tides and worsening the flooding threat.
Residents are urged to avoid unnecessary travel, stay away from flooded areas and never approach downed power lines or trees that may have come into contact with electrical equipment.
