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Powerful nor'easter brings flooding, power outages and travel disruption to Northeast

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 24 outlets across the spectrum.

71 articles in total, 1 of them opinion. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

A powerful nor'easter struck the northeastern United States, affecting tens of millions of people from Maine to Virginia. The storm brought heavy rain, winds up to 60 mph, coastal flooding, storm surges and rip currents. New York and New Jersey declared states of emergency. Power outages affected tens of thousands to more than 50,000 customers, according to different reports. Hundreds of flights were canceled or delayed, and commuter trains were partially suspended. France 24 reported the storm killed one person, citing US media. Flooding and large waves continued to affect parts of the East Coast, including New England, into the following weekend.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. How this works

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

  1. New York and New Jersey declared states of emergency ahead of the storm

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

  2. The storm brought winds up to 60 mph along with heavy rain and coastal flooding

    Reported byLeftRight

  3. Power outages affected tens of thousands of people, with some reports citing more than 50,000

    Reported byCenterRight

  4. Hundreds of flights were canceled or delayed

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

  5. One death was linked to the storm, according to US media cited by France 24

    Reported byCenter

  6. Massive waves and flooding continued in parts of New England days after the storm first hit

    Reported byLeft

What is contested

Where accounts differ

Points the coverage does not agree on, and who says what.

  • Number of people affected by power outages

    France 24 and BBC report the outages affected 'tens of thousands' of people, while the Daily Mail reports 'more than 50,000' lost power.

  • Whether the storm caused a fatality

    France 24 reports the storm killed one person, citing US media, while other outlets in the sample do not mention any death.

How each side tells it

Compare views

  • the left

    9 outlets

    Left-leaning outlets describe the storm's practical impact on daily life and continued effects, with some coverage following up on lingering flooding and waves days later.

    WATCH: Nor'easter leaves trail of damage from New York to Maine
    ABC NewsLeftAll left-leaning headlines
  • the center

    6 outlets

    Center outlets use measured, descriptive language emphasizing the storm's scale and geographic reach, often citing numbers of affected people and outages.

    Powerful nor'easter batters parts of East Coast
    PBS NewsHourCenterAll center headlines
  • the right

    9 outlets · 1 opinion

    Right-leaning outlets, including the far-right outlets, use more dramatic language emphasizing danger and scale, though mainstream right coverage remains largely factual and similar to center outlets.

    Nor' Easter Floods Northeast Again, Sensational language“Pummels”Pummels is a dramatic verb choice that adds intensity beyond a neutral description of storm impact.More neutral: strikesDisagree with this highlight? New Jersey to New England
    Breitbart NewsFar RightAll right-leaning headlines

The words they chose

Language to notice

Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.

  • Left7

    cancelledslams East Coastflight chaosslamming

  • Center0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

  • Right25

    cancelledis slamming the north east United Statessmashed into the East Coastflood chaos

In the outlets’ own words

  • Partisan shorthand

    cancelledMore neutral: was fired or lost a contract

    Frames consequences as persecution; state what happened.

    Watch: Videos show aftermath of nor'easter as streets flooded, events cancelled

    Used byCBS News (Left)Breitbart News (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    is slamming the north east United StatesMore neutral: is hitting the northeastern United States

    Slamming is a dramatic verb choice beyond neutral description of a storm arriving

    A “strong” nor’easter is slamming the north east United States, impacting millions as the storm brings heavy rain, strong wind…

    Used byBreitbart News (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    smashed into the East CoastMore neutral: reached the East Coast

    A weather event making landfall or approaching is described with a violent verb that adds drama beyond the facts.

    A powerful nor'easter with 40 million Americans in its path has finally smashed into the East Coast on Friday night, knocking out power for more than 50,000 and partially…

    Used byDaily Mail (Right)

  • Sensational language

    flood chaosMore neutral: flooding

    Uses dramatic framing rather than a factual description of flooding conditions.

    Power cuts, flood chaos and hundreds of flights canceled as monster Nor'easter bears down on 40 million…

    Used byDaily Mail (Right)

Show 27 more phrasesShow fewer
  • Sensational language

    monster Nor'easterMore neutral: powerful nor'easter

    Describes the storm with dramatic, exaggerated language rather than a neutral descriptor.

    Power cuts, flood chaos and hundreds of flights canceled as monster Nor'easter bears down on 40 million Americans

    Used byDaily Mail (Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    foolhardy surfersMore neutral: surfers who defied warnings

    Labels the surfers' judgment negatively rather than neutrally describing their action.

    The nor'easter didn't stopping several foolhardy surfers from catching some swells.

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Sensational language

    wild stormsMore neutral: powerful storms

    Adds dramatic flair beyond a neutral description of the storm's intensity.

    …ignore nor’easter warnings and dangers, catch high waves off Rockaway Beach during wild storms

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Sensational language

    carnageMore neutral: aftermath

    Describes the aftermath of one storm-related death as "carnage," a term implying mass casualties disproportionate to the reported facts.

    Violent nor’easter hammers NYC and surrounding region, leaving 1 dead in carnage

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Loaded verb

    slammedMore neutral: hit

    A dramatic verb where a neutral term like 'hit' or 'struck' conveys the same information without added intensity.

    …a falling tree in Brooklyn as the storm swept through the city A powerful nor’easter slammed the U.S.

    Used byJust the News (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    slams East CoastMore neutral: hits East Coast

    Uses a dramatic verb for the storm's impact rather than a neutral description of its effects.

    Special report: One person dead as dangerous nor'easter slams East Coast

    Used byNBC News (Left)

  • Sensational language

    ravagedMore neutral: affected

    An intensified verb implying extreme destruction beyond what is factually established in the excerpt.

    The extremely rare early-season storm has ravaged coastal communities across the Northeast, as officials warn conditions are set to…

    Used byDaily Mail (Right)

  • Sensational language

    turns DEADLYMore neutral: turns deadly

    All-caps dramatic phrasing sensationalizes a fact that could be stated plainly.

    Mammoth nor'easter turns DEADLY as man is killed by falling tree in storm that officials are warning will only get…

    Used byDaily Mail (Right)

  • Sensational language

    flight chaosMore neutral: flight disruptions

    Dramatizes travel disruption with an emotionally charged term rather than a neutral description.

    Powerful winds and towering waves are battering the US Northeast, causing flight chaos and blackouts.

    Used byAl Jazeera English (Left)

  • Loaded verb

    slammingMore neutral: hitting

    A dramatic verb where 'hitting' or 'striking' would convey the same meaning neutrally.

    A nor'easter storm is slamming New York, New Jersey, Maryland and beyond, as locals deal with severe flooding and…

    Used byCBS News (Left)

  • Sensational language

    deadly nor'easterMore neutral: powerful nor'easter

    Repeats the unconfirmed characterization of the storm as having caused a death.

    …Moses State Park as 18-foot waves crashed onto the beaches, brought on by the deadly nor’easter hammering the NYC region.

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Loaded verb

    vanishesMore neutral: goes missing

    A dramatic verb choice for a person reported missing, implying mystery beyond the facts.

    Long Island swimmer vanishes in ocean off Fire Island during deadly nor’easter as officials launch search

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Sensational language

    turns streets to riversMore neutral: causes street flooding

    A vivid metaphor exaggerating flooding conditions beyond a factual description.

    Deadly nor'easter turns streets to rivers as 65mph winds and torrential rainfall wreaks havoc while flights are…

    Used byDaily Mail (Right)

  • Sensational language

    wreaks havocMore neutral: causes widespread disruption

    A dramatic idiom that manufactures drama beyond the specific facts of flooding and outages described.

    Deadly nor'easter turns streets to rivers as 65mph winds and torrential rainfall wreaks havoc while flights are urgently stopped...

    Used byDaily Mail (Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    tragicMore neutral: remove or state plainly that he died

    Editorializes about the death rather than stating it neutrally.

    The tragic NYCHA handyman killed by a falling tree in Brooklyn was known as “Mr.

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Sensational language

    teary localsMore neutral: neighbors

    Emphasizes emotional drama in the headline rather than reporting facts.

    Fix-it,’ died working overtime — how teary locals recognized body

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Sensational language

    laid siegeMore neutral: caused widespread flooding

    Militaristic language exaggerates the storm's action beyond a neutral description of flooding

    …communities from Maine to North Carolina this weekend as a deadly nor’easter laid siege to New England and a vast majority of the Northeastern United States.

    Used byThe Epoch Times (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    pummellingMore neutral: hitting

    Vivid but overly dramatic verb for a weather event beyond factual description

    A powerful storm is pummelling the shoreline in the northeastern United States for a second day, causing another…

    Used byAl Jazeera English (Left)

  • Sensational language

    wet-and-wildMore neutral: powerful

    Casual, dramatized description adds unnecessary flair beyond factual reporting

    The wet-and-wild storm sent ocean fish swimming through driveways and hungry seagulls diving for…

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Sensational language

    hapless ocean fishMore neutral: ocean fish

    Anthropomorphizing language adds dramatic color rather than factual reporting

    The wet-and-wild storm sent hapless ocean fish swimming through driveways and hungry seagulls diving for dinner in city streets…

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Sensational language

    surreal scenesMore neutral: unusual scenes

    Editorializes the scene as extraordinary rather than describing it factually

    Round 2 of NYC’s nor’easter hits after tree falls on two young kids and leaves surreal scenes: ‘Worst it’s been since Sandy’

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Sensational language

    DeadlyMore neutral: remove or state number of deaths if known

    While accurate given a death occurred, it functions here as a dramatic intensifier in a headline summarizing broad storm recovery.

    Millions Recover as Deadly Nor'easter Batters East Coast, 200,000 Lose Power

    Used byCBN News (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    ravaged by severe weatherMore neutral: affected by severe weather

    Ravaged is a dramatic verb choice that adds emotional intensity beyond a neutral description of storm damage.

    …nor'easter will continue to affect millions along the East Coast, which was ravaged by severe weather over the weekend.

    Used byCBS News (Left)

  • Sensational language

    pummeled the shorelineMore neutral: struck the shoreline

    Pummeled is a dramatic verb that adds intensity beyond a neutral description of the storm's impact.

    …way through floodwaters for a second day Sunday as a powerful nor’easter pummeled the shoreline.

    Used byBreitbart News (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    travel chaosMore neutral: travel disruption

    Chaos is a dramatic intensifier used to describe travel disruption rather than a neutral description.

    …have since found themselves battling coastal flooding, power cuts, driving rain, travel chaos and cancelled stadium events.

    Used byBreitbart News (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    PummelsMore neutral: strikes

    Pummels is a dramatic verb choice that adds intensity beyond a neutral description of storm impact.

    Nor' Easter Floods Northeast Again, Pummels New Jersey to New England

    Used byBreitbart News (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    batteredMore neutral: struck

    Conveys forceful impact with dramatic connotation rather than a neutral description of the storm's effects.

    A powerful storm known as a nor'easter battered the US east coast, causing power outages, flooding, high winds and hazardous ocean…

    Used byThe Guardian (Left)

See the full language guide

See for yourself

Side by side

What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.

From the left

9 outlets

Leads with

  • disruption to events and travel
  • personal accounts of coping with the storm
  • ongoing impact after the initial storm passed

Leaves out

  • specific outage numbers
  • reported death

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 11 headlines from the leftHide the headlines

From the center

6 outlets

Leads with

  • scale of the storm across states
  • power outages and flight cancellations
  • official emergency declarations
See the 8 headlines from the centerHide the headlines

From the right

9 outlets · 1 opinion

Leads with

  • scale of population affected
  • dramatic descriptors like 'monster' or 'dangerous'
  • emergency declarations and safety warnings

Leaves out

  • reported death

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 11 headlines from the rightHide the headlines

Articles you open from here build My Mix, a private picture of how your reading spreads across the spectrum, kept on this device. What is My Mix?

The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.

Who reported it when

How the coverage built up

  • Left

    First to report

    The Washington Post, Sep 25, 4:33 PM EDT

  • Center

    18 hr 35 min later

    Its first report, Sep 26, 11:08 AM EDT

  • Right

    2 hr 24 min later

    Its first report, Sep 25, 6:57 PM EDT

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. The Washington PostLeftSep 25, 4:33 PM EDT
  2. The Epoch TimesFar RightSep 25, 6:57 PM EDT
  3. CBS NewsLeftSep 25, 7:24 PM EDT
  4. NPRLeftSep 26, 7:38 AM EDT
  5. BloombergLeftSep 26, 8:21 AM EDT
  6. Breitbart NewsFar RightSep 26, 10:49 AM EDT
  7. France 24CenterSep 26, 11:08 AM EDT
  8. PBS NewsHourCenterSep 26, 11:20 AM EDT
  9. The New York TimesLeftSep 26, 11:43 AM EDT
  10. Daily MailRightSep 26, 3:46 PM EDT
  11. The GuardianLeftSep 26, 4:34 PM EDT
  12. One America NewsFar RightSep 26, 5:14 PM EDT
  13. New York PostRightSep 26, 5:36 PM EDT
  14. BBC NewsCenterSep 26, 6:04 PM EDT
  15. Al Jazeera EnglishLeftSep 26, 6:51 PM EDT
  16. NBC NewsLeftSep 26, 9:33 PM EDT
  17. ABC NewsLeftSep 26, 10:54 PM EDT
  18. Deutsche WelleCenterSep 26, 11:33 PM EDT
  19. The Daily WireFar RightSep 27, 5:12 AM EDT
  20. The HillCenterSep 27, 7:07 AM EDT
  21. The Washington TimesRightSep 27, 9:11 AM EDT
  22. Straight Arrow NewsCenterSep 27, 3:51 PM EDT
  23. CBN NewsFar RightSep 28, 9:09 AM EDT

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out. Just the News gave only a date, so it is not placed.

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