These 10 Cities Saw the recent Nor’easter Shatter Rainfall Records

Nor’easters are powerful low-pressure storm systems that can occur when cold air from the Arctic collides with warmer, northbound air out of the Gulf region. While this specific type of storm is most commonly associated with winter blizzards, the threat Nor’easters pose typically intensifies each year in the month of September — and only days ago, the first Nor’easter of the season wreaked havoc over a large swath of New England and the Mid-Atlantic.

Last weekend, tens of millions of Americans along the Eastern Seaboard were impacted by high winds and heavy rains. From North Carolina up through Maine, the storm led to widespread flooding and left thousands without power. Wind gusts as high as 74 miles per hour took down trees and have already been linked to at least one fatality. 

Across the Northeast, rainfall totals broke longstanding daily precipitation records. In parts of New York and New Jersey, residents were reportedly paddling down flooded roadways in canoes and kayaks, as communities were inundated with more rain in a single day than they typically get in the entire month of September. 

Using data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Southeast Regional Climate Center, Climate Crisis 247 identified the cities where this month’s Nor’easter shattered historic rainfall records. We ranked all places with available data on total rainfall on Saturday, September 26, and Sunday, September 27. Only cities where rainfall set at least one new daily record were considered, and only the 10 places with the greatest single-day rainfall volume are listed. All supplemental data is also from NOAA. 

10. Atlantic City, New Jersey

• New record-breaking daily rainfall volume: 2.5 inches on Sept. 27, 2026
• Normal local rainfall on September 27 (historical avg.): 0.1 inches
• Normal local rainfall total for entire month of September (historical avg.): 3.6 inches
• Local record keeping began: 69 years ago

9. Lumberton Township, New Jersey

• New record-breaking daily rainfall volume: 2.6 inches on Sept. 27, 2026
• Normal local rainfall on September 27 (historical avg.): 0.1 inches
• Normal local rainfall total for entire month of September (historical avg.): 3.4 inches
• Local record keeping began: 26 years ago

8. Walpole, Massachusetts

• New record-breaking daily rainfall volume: 3.3 inches on Sept. 26, 2026
• Normal local rainfall on September 26 (historical avg.): 0.1 inches
• Normal local rainfall total for entire month of September (historical avg.): 3.7 inches
• Local record keeping began: 54 years ago

7. Norwood, Massachusetts

• New record-breaking daily rainfall volume: 3.5 inches on Sept. 27, 2026
• Normal local rainfall on September 27 (historical avg.): 0.1 inches
• Normal local rainfall total for entire month of September (historical avg.): 3.8 inches
• Local record keeping began: 29 years ago

6. New Bedford, Massachusetts

• New record-breaking daily rainfall volume: 3.7 inches on Sept. 27, 2026
• Normal local rainfall on September 27 (historical avg.): 0.1 inches
• Normal local rainfall total for entire month of September (historical avg.): 3.6 inches
• Local record keeping began: 29 years ago

5. Newark, New Jersey

• New record-breaking daily rainfall volume: 3.7 inches on Sept. 26, 2026
• Normal local rainfall on September 26 (historical avg.): 0.1 inches
• Normal local rainfall total for entire month of September (historical avg.): 4.3 inches
• Local record keeping began: 109 years ago

4. Edgartown, Massachusetts

• New record-breaking daily rainfall volume: 3.8 inches on Sept. 26, 2026
• Normal local rainfall on September 26 (historical avg.): 0.1 inches
• Normal local rainfall total for entire month of September (historical avg.): 3.9 inches
• Local record keeping began: 79 years ago

3. Milton, Massachusetts

• New record-breaking daily rainfall volume: 4.7 inches on Sept. 27, 2026
• Normal local rainfall on September 27 (historical avg.): 0.2 inches
• Normal local rainfall total for entire month of September (historical avg.): 3.8 inches
• Local record keeping began: 134 years ago

2. Boston, Massachusetts

• New record-breaking daily rainfall volume: 4.7 inches on Sept. 26, 2026
• Normal local rainfall on September 26 (historical avg.): 0.1 inches
• Normal local rainfall total for entire month of September (historical avg.): 4.2 inches
• Local record keeping began: 131 years ago

1. Brockton, Massachusetts

• New record-breaking daily rainfall volume: 4.9 inches on Sept. 27, 2026
• Normal local rainfall on September 27 (historical avg.): 0.2 inches
• Normal local rainfall total for entire month of September (historical avg.): 4.1 inches
• Local record keeping began: 116 years ago