Northeast Braces for Nor'easter Bringing Heavy Rain, Wind This Weekend

Millions of people along the Northeast coast are preparing for a potent nor'easter forecast to deliver substantial rain and high winds starting Friday afternoon and lasting through Monday.

The storm is expected to begin with intermittent rain from North Carolina to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, on Friday. By Saturday and continuing through Monday, the region from New Jersey to Maine will experience windy conditions with on-and-off rain showers. Rainfall totals could reach 2 to 4 inches across much of New Jersey and into Maine. Boston and Long Island, New York, are forecast to receive higher amounts, potentially between 4 and 6 inches.

Wind gusts have already reached 40 to 50 mph along the Mid-Atlantic coast and are projected to move northward. A high wind watch is in effect for Friday and Saturday along the Jersey Shore and from Rhode Island through coastal Massachusetts, where gusts could reach up to 60 mph. New York City may experience its strongest winds on Saturday morning, with gusts around 45 mph.

The nor'easter is also anticipated to cause coastal flooding, large waves, and beach erosion. Waves of up to 12 feet are possible from North Carolina's Outer Banks to the New Jersey shore through Saturday. From Friday to Sunday, wave heights could reach up to 17 feet from Massachusetts to Maine.

Potential impacts from the storm include power outages and flight disruptions along the Northeast coast. Nor'easters, characterized by winds from the northeast, typically occur between September and April and often bring heavy precipitation, gale-force winds, rough seas, and coastal flooding.