Nor'easter Doubles Flood Alerts for 33 Million on East Coast

Flood alerts covering an estimated 33 million people have doubled within 24 hours as a rare September nor'easter approaches the East Coast, according to a report published by NBC News NOW on Sept. 25, 2026. The system is forecast to bring heavy rain, strong winds and coastal flooding, the network reported. At the same time in the Pacific, Hurricane Nolo is rapidly intensifying on a track toward Hawaii, NBC News NOW said.

What happened in the last 24 hours?

According to the NBC News NOW segment, the number of people under flood alerts along the East Coast doubled in a single day as forecasters tracked the approaching nor'easter. The report did not specify the exact alert count before the increase, but confirmed the current figure at 33 million people.

How many people and areas are affected?

The 33 million figure cited by NBC News NOW covers East Coast communities facing heavy rain, strong winds and coastal flooding risk from the storm. The network's reporting did not break the total down by state or region, and no additional agency alert data was available in the source material.

Why is a September nor'easter considered rare?

NBC News NOW described the storm as a "rare September nor'easter," a characterization tied to the timing rather than the storm's mechanics. Nor'easters typically form along the U.S. East Coast when cold air from Canada collides with warm, moist air moving up from the Atlantic — a pattern more common in the fall-to-spring window than in early autumn. The network's report did not provide additional meteorological detail beyond the rarity of the timing.

What is Hurricane Nolo doing in the Pacific?

Separately, NBC News NOW reported that Hurricane Nolo is rapidly intensifying and moving toward Hawaii. The segment did not include Nolo's wind speeds, category, or projected landfall timing, and no additional storm-tracking data was provided in the available reporting.

What should residents watch for next?

• Coastal flooding tied to the nor'easter's storm surge and heavy rainfall, per NBC News NOW.
• Strong winds accompanying the system as it moves up the East Coast, per the same report.
• Hurricane Nolo's intensification trend as it approaches Hawaii, according to NBC News NOW.
• Any updated alert totals beyond the reported 33 million, which reflect a doubling in 24 hours as of the network's Sept. 25 report.

Weather terms explained

Nor'easter: A storm system along the U.S. East Coast, named for the northeasterly winds that blow in from the ocean, typically producing heavy precipitation and coastal impacts.

Rapid intensification: A term used by forecasters, referenced in the NBC News NOW report regarding Hurricane Nolo, to describe a tropical system strengthening quickly over a short period.

Flood alert: A weather-service notification indicating an area faces elevated risk of flooding, cited in the report as the metric that doubled for the East Coast population in 24 hours.

By the numbers

• 33 million — people covered by flood alerts tied to the nor'easter, per NBC News NOW.
• 24 hours — the span in which flood alerts for the East Coast doubled, according to the same report.

The NBC News NOW segment, dated Sept. 25, 2026, is the sole reporting available on both systems at this time; no landfall timing, rainfall totals, or wind-speed figures were included in the source material.