Nor'easter Expected to Impact East Coast with Strong Winds and Rain

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A powerful nor'easter is intensifying as it approaches New England, generating storm-force winds and large waves along the East Coast. Forecasters have warned that dangerous conditions could persist through the weekend. Millions of people are under storm warnings, leading to concert cancellations and evacuations from islands near Cape Cod ahead of the storm's arrival. Peak wind gusts are expected to reach 60 to 65 mph (97 to 105 kph) on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket, while gusts around Boston may reach 50 to 55 mph (80 to 89 kph) and 35 to 40 mph (56 to 64 kph) further inland, according to Matthew Belk, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Norton, Massachusetts. Belk noted that nor'easters are common in New England during the fall, but the presence of leaves on trees could increase the risk of downed limbs and power outages. As residents prepared for the storm, the Boston Red Sox announced changes to their weekend series against the Chicago Cubs, moving a game to Friday. Ed Sheeran's concerts at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, were also canceled. Additionally, public ferry services connecting Cape Cod with Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard faced widespread cancellations due to strong winds and rough waters, with disruptions expected to continue into Saturday. Sean Driscoll, a spokesperson for the Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority, stated that travelers often have backup plans for such situations, acknowledging that dealing with storm-related disruptions is part of life in the region.