Early-season nor’easter batters Northeast with flooding, high winds

A massive early-season nor’easter began to weaken Sunday after battering communities across the Northeast with torrential rain, damaging winds, massive waves and coastal flooding.

(CNN)- A massive early-season nor’easter began to weaken Sunday after battering communities across the Northeast with torrential rain, damaging winds, massive waves and coastal flooding.

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill warned residents that the danger had not completely passed.

“To be clear, we’re not out of the woods just yet,” Sherrill said. “I ask that you stay vigilant and continue to watch for updates so you’re prepared if conditions change.”

In Atlantic City, New Jersey, water levels reached their highest point since Superstorm Sandy in 2012, prompting evacuations and rescues along the Jersey Shore.

The severe weather also turned deadly in New York City. According to police, a New York City Housing Authority employee died following a report of a fallen tree. The man was taken to a Brooklyn hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Even as the storm weakened, crews continued working to restore electrical service. Tens of thousands of customers across the Northeast remained without power Sunday.

Officials said the early-fall timing of the nor’easter created additional challenges because leaves were still on trees.

“The unique nature of this storm is the strength of the wind and the duration and the fact that the leaves are still green on the trees,” said Chuck Eves, vice president of electric operations for Avangrid.

Nor’easters typically occur during the colder months, when trees have already lost their leaves and the ground may be frozen.

“Typically a nor’easter we have frozen ground. The leaves are gone off the trees and it’s not as significant,” Eves said.