Ed Sheeran's two sold-out concerts at Gillette Stadium this weekend have been canceled outright, as a powerful nor'easter barrels into New England with damaging winds and coastal flooding. The Friday and Saturday shows in Foxborough, Massachusetts — part of Sheeran's "Loop" tour — were called off less than 24 hours before the first was set to begin, according to CBS News Boston.

Tour promoter Messina Touring Group confirmed the decision in a statement, citing consultation with local public safety officials as the storm was forecast to bring wind gusts as high as 60 mph and coastal flood warnings affecting tens of millions across the Northeast. "Due to the severe weather warnings in place in Boston and across New England throughout the weekend and following consultation with local officials, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the Ed Sheeran concerts at Gillette Stadium," the statement read, adding that fan and staff safety was the "top priority," per NBC News.

"The decision was made with the safety of fans, staff and everyone involved in the shows as the top priority."

Refunds are being issued automatically to fans who bought tickets through Ticketmaster, while other purchasers can seek refunds at their original point of sale. Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell had pressed for swift refund action once the cancellations were announced, according to CBS Boston's report. Sheeran's next scheduled tour stop is in Atlanta on October 3.

A Tour Already Under Strain

The washout lands the "Loop" tour in fresh headlines just weeks after it was rocked by controversy over opening act Macklemore, who was dropped from the bill after declaring "Free Palestine" during earlier shows at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Gillette Stadium owner and Patriots chairman Robert Kraft objected publicly to the remarks, and Macklemore was pulled from the remaining dates, according to TMZ. Several other supporting acts subsequently exited the tour in solidarity, and Sheeran went on to perform a following date solo.

Coverage of the storm cancellation from Fox News and CNN both frame the washed-out weekend as the latest setback for a tour that had already been generating as much off-stage drama as on-stage buzz. Neither Sheeran nor Kraft's stadium representatives have announced whether the Gillette dates will be rescheduled.

For now, fans holding tickets are being directed to check their point of purchase for refund status, and attention shifts to whether the storm-battered Northeast leg gets a makeup date once the tour's routing allows for one.