Nor'easter Threatens 17 States with Tropical Storm-Force Winds and Flooding
Millions are bracing for heavy rain, coastal flooding, and strong winds as a powerful storm system moves up the East Coast.
Tens of millions of Americans across 17 states are under warnings as a significant nor'easter is expected to bring tropical storm-force conditions starting Tuesday and lasting into the weekend. The storm system is forecast to deliver heavy rain, coastal flooding, dangerous rip currents, and damaging wind gusts.
States from North Carolina to Maine are expected to be affected. New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, and North Carolina are anticipated to experience persistent downpours through Wednesday, with the potential for flash floods.
The storm is projected to move up the East Coast, bringing winds exceeding 60 mph and causing coastal flooding in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine by Friday. AccuWeather expert meteorologist Alyssa Glenny stated that the storm could produce tropical-storm-force wind gusts later in the week.
Nor'easters are powerful storms that form along the U.S. East Coast, characterized by northeast winds when a low-pressure system is situated over the ocean. While often associated with snowstorms, they can occur year-round, with the most intense typically happening from late fall through winter.
This nor'easter arriving at the end of summer is considered early and uncommon, and meteorologists predict it will bring more rain than snow. Temperatures are expected to drop five to 15 degrees below average across the affected regions.
Forecasters attribute the storm's intensity and stalled movement to a high-pressure system over the Great Lakes, which is acting as a blockage, forcing high-altitude winds to slow and hover. This disruption is causing storms to linger over the eastern U.S. and is allowing a new storm to form and strengthen along or near the East Coast.
When the storm's center is near the ocean, the resulting northeast winds push water toward the land, elevating tides and driving large waves ashore. A full moon later in the week is expected to exacerbate tidal flooding, with the storm potentially piling water even higher. The severity of wind, flooding, and beach erosion will depend on how closely the storm tracks along the coast.