Eastern U.S. Saw Tornadoes, Nor'easter in September (MD)

College Park, MD – September brought tornadoes, flash flooding, late-season heat and a powerful nor'easter to parts of the eastern United States, according to a new federal weather summary.

The National Weather Service Eastern Region said September 2026 featured several notable events from the Carolinas through New England, including rounds of severe thunderstorms early in the month and a coastal storm during the final week.

Three EF-1 tornadoes occurred in central and eastern Pennsylvania on Sept. 1. A day later, eight tornadoes were reported in Upstate New York, including an EF-2 in Seneca County that severely damaged, leveled or lifted several barns and outbuildings.

Severe storms continued Sept. 3-6. A 71 mph gust was measured in Ballston, Virginia, on Sept. 3, while a 67 mph gust was recorded near Bedford, Virginia, the following day. Two tornadoes touched down in eastern North Carolina on Sept. 5.

That same day, Columbia, South Carolina, reached 102 degrees — its highest September temperature since 1925 and its first triple-digit September reading since 1957.

Heavy rain also affected the Northeast. Significant flash flooding struck southern Connecticut and northern New Jersey on Sept. 13, with Bridgeport, Connecticut, recording 4.25 inches of rain.

From Sept. 24-29, a powerful nor'easter affected the Mid-Atlantic and New England coasts with high winds, heavy rain and successive high tides. The weather service reported an 81 mph gust at Montauk Point, New York, and a 74 mph gust at Surf City, New Jersey.

Rainfall exceeded 7 inches in parts of Massachusetts and New Jersey during the storm. For the month, precipitation topped 13 inches in a few Massachusetts locations, including 13.35 inches near Falmouth.

The NWS review shows September's most significant weather varied sharply by location, ranging from unusually dry conditions in parts of northern New England and New York to damaging storms and exceptional rainfall elsewhere.