Evacuations ordered and Ed Sheeran concerts cancelled as 'blockbuster' nor'easter barrels toward 12 US states

From the Newshound archive · first published 25 September 2026 · last updated 26 September 2026.

New Jersey officials have ordered voluntary evacuations in flood-prone Manasquan as a massive nor'easter threatens to batter the US East Coast from Virginia to Maine through Sunday night. New York Governor Kathy Hochul urged residents to prepare for fallen power lines and inundated streets, with AccuWeather's worst-case scenario putting rainfall at 13 inches and wind gusts hitting 80mph along the Massachusetts coast.

The Global Citizen Festival in Central Park — hosted by Hugh Jackman and featuring Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean — has been cancelled for the first time in 14 years.

Ed Sheeran scrapped two sold-out shows at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, as Cape Cod and Nantucket brace for gusts of up to 65mph from Friday night into Saturday.

Trees still in full autumn leaf are making the storm especially dangerous, raising the risk of widespread power outages and blocked roads across New England.