The storm that hit the Northeast has begun to pass, and its fury has claimed at least one life. Now it drifts toward the sea, a nor’easter whose worst has already passed.
Leighton Brown, a 56-year-old employee of the New York City Housing Authority, died on Saturday afternoon in Brooklyn after being struck by a falling tree while walking through a parking lot. The New York Police Department confirmed the death to ABC News. Mayor Zohran Mamdani identified the man in a statement posted on social media.
The Storm’s Path
A nor’easter is losing strength as it drifts slowly toward the northeast, passing from Long Island, New York, over Massachusetts, and into the Gulf of Maine by Tuesday. Rain remains mostly light, circling the storm throughout New England.
Monday’s mid-to-late afternoon forecast shows dry weather over New York City, Long Island and New Jersey. Boston is set to follow suit by roughly 6 a.m. on Tuesday. Maine, however, will see some light showers carry over into Tuesday.
The storm has weakened considerably since it reached its peak, and the rain that once fell in torrents is now merely a shadow of that earlier violence. As the system moves out to sea, the worst of the weather has already passed.
Flood Alerts and Surf
The coast from the Delmarva Peninsula, which spans parts of Delaware, Virginia and Maryland, up to coastal Massachusetts sits under coastal flood warnings for Monday. Tides running high on both Monday morning and Tuesday morning could trigger minor to moderate flooding at the shore, though the forecast calls for it to fall short of what was seen over the weekend.
Today, eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island remain under a flood watch, with another 1.5 inches of rain possible. Widespread problems aren’t anticipated, though the already wet ground means urban flooding could still occur.
Today, waves along the coast may rise as high as 12 feet, from coastal Massachusetts northward into coastal Maine.
Wind and Waves
The warnings for strong winds have ended. Blows of 20 to 30 mph could happen on Monday across the stretch running from New Jersey to Maine.
| Location | Forecast | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| New York City, Long Island, New Jersey | Dry skies mid-to-late afternoon | Monday |
| Boston | Dry skies by about 6 a.m. | Tuesday |
| Maine | Lingering light showers | Tuesday |
| Delmarva Peninsula through coastal Massachusetts | Coastal flood alerts | Monday |
| Eastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island | Flood watch, up to 1.5 inches of rain possible | Today |
| Coastal Massachusetts through coastal Maine | High surf up to 12 feet possible | Today |
The wind warnings have been lifted, meaning the strongest gusts have passed. But the air remains unsettled, with steady blows of 20 to 30 mph possible across a wide stretch of the East Coast.
What Remains
Though the storm’s peak fury has eased, the area still faces an unsettled period ahead. The rain keeps circling the system as it weakens, while coastal flooding stays a worry through Tuesday morning.
The human toll of this particular storm is Brown’s death, and the city has now put a name to it.
Key Facts Box
- Death: One confirmed, Leighton Brown, 56, employee of the New York City Housing Authority
- Cause: Struck by a falling tree
- Location: Brooklyn, New York
- Date: Saturday afternoon
- Storm status: Weakening, drifting northeast
- Rain: Mainly light, continuing throughout New England
- Flood watch: Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, up to 1.5 inches of rain possible today
- Surf: Up to 12 feet from coastal Massachusetts through coastal Maine today
- Wind gusts: 20 to 30 mph possible Monday from New Jersey to Maine
The storm is passing, and the region will recover.
Source material: “Nor'easter weakens after deadly battering of Northeast,” ABC News.
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