Deadly nor'easter pummels US East Coast; avalanche claims lives in Nepal

A powerful nor'easter has caused widespread disruption across the US Northeast, bringing significant flooding and leaving tens of thousands without power. Coastal communities from New Jersey to New England have experienced substantial inundation and strong winds, which downed trees and damaged homes. The storm, which led to at least one fatality, has been compared to Hurricane Sandy due to the severity of the flooding in some areas, with over 10 centimeters of rain falling in parts of New Jersey.

Concurrently, Nepal is grappling with severe weather conditions, including a deadly avalanche that struck Mount Himlung, resulting in at least two deaths and 12 people missing, all Nepali nationals. This incident occurred amid a period of intense rainfall and snowfall across the Himalayan nation, which has also triggered widespread floods and landslides. These broader severe weather events have claimed at least 21 lives and left five others missing, forcing the evacuation of approximately 3,000 people and damaging hundreds of homes.

These regional weather extremes are occurring as a strengthening El Niño pattern is influencing global climate. Experts suggest this El Niño could be one of the most powerful on record, contributing to a season of intensified extreme weather events worldwide that are expected to continue into 2027.