BOSTON — Governor Maura Healey’s Office and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency are urging residents — especially those on the coast — to prepare for an early fall nor’easter expected to bring heavy rain, strong winds, and higher-than-normal tides to Massachusetts from Friday through Sunday.
The National Weather Service’s Boston/Norton office has predicted 2 to 6 inches of rain in Eastern Massachusetts over the weekend, with sustained winds of 30 to 40 mph across Central and Eastern Massachusetts and gusts of up to 60 mph on the coast. Minor coastal flooding and pockets of erosion are also possible.
With leaves still on trees, Governor Healey’s office said that gusts could down limbs and cause scattered power outages, especially near coastal areas. Traffic is also expected to be slow Friday evening through Sunday, and create hazardous conditions for high-profile vehicles, which are susceptible to strong winds.
The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) said it is coordinating with the National Weather Service, the Barnstable County Multi Agency Coordination Center, and the Department of Public Utilities. MEMA’s eastern regional office’s local coordinators are checking in with directors in cities and towns, especially in coastal communities, and the State Emergency Operations Center is monitoring and ready to activate if needed.
“Our top priority is keeping people safe, and Massachusetts is prepared for this storm,” Governor Healey said in a statement Friday. “It isn’t often we see nor’easters this early in the fall, but our teams are closely monitoring the forecast, coordinating with local officials and ready to respond quickly to support communities before, during and after the storm.”
Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll urged residents to charge devices and have extra batteries for flashlights in case of power outages. MEMA Director Dawn Brantley, noting September is Emergency Preparedness Month, urged people to check on neighbors, especially older adults and people with disabilities.
Officials advised residents to:
- Bring in or secure loose outdoor items
- Make sure emergency alerts are enabled on your cell phone and sign up for local reverse 911
- Stock a home emergency kit, charge phones and laptops, use flashlights over candles, and keep extra batteries for medical and assistive devices
- Follow generator safety — outdoors only, exhaust away from doors and windows, cool before refueling, and test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
Transportation impacts are expected. Ahead of the storm, MassDOT said crews are clearing drains of debris and inspecting flood-prone areas and urged drivers to minimize travel and check mass511.com and @MassDOT on X for updates.
The MBTA asked riders to allow extra time, check forecasts for return trips, and monitor T-Alerts. All MBTA ferry services are cancelled Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 26-27.
Massport expects flight delays and cancellations at Logan and Worcester Regional airports and told passengers to check with their airlines before coming to the airport.
