Subtropical Storm Josephine Forms Off East Coast, Threatening Nine States
The storm is expected to bring coastal flooding, dangerous surf, and gale-force winds to the Eastern Seaboard through Friday.
Subtropical Storm Josephine formed off the U.S. East Coast on Wednesday, prompting warnings for nine states regarding potential storm impacts over the coming days. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) announced the storm's formation at 5 p.m. ET over the Atlantic Ocean, located east of Virginia and south of New England.
Forecasts from AccuWeather indicate that the storm could cause coastal flooding at high tide from North Carolina up to southeastern New York through Thursday. These hazardous conditions are expected to persist along the eastern coast of Massachusetts into Friday.
Unlike a typical tropical storm, which derives its energy from warm ocean waters, a subtropical storm exhibits characteristics of both tropical and non-tropical weather systems, such as a nor'easter. The NHC reported that Josephine's maximum sustained winds were 65 mph with higher gusts. Hurricane-force winds, at least 74 mph, are anticipated by Thursday.
Josephine was moving slowly northward on Wednesday but is projected to accelerate and turn northeast on Thursday, moving away from the U.S. coastline. By Friday, the storm is forecast to shift eastward, passing south of Newfoundland, Canada.
However, the storm's effects may linger along the East Coast even as Josephine moves further offshore. Gale-force wind gusts are possible in parts of the Northeast through Thursday. Minor to moderate coastal flooding is already impacting areas of the Mid-Atlantic and is expected to continue around high tide for the remainder of the week. Large swells are also reaching much of the Eastern Seaboard, creating dangerous surf and rip currents at beaches.
Josephine is expected to intensify over the next day near the Gulf Stream. Hurricane-force winds are predicted to develop on its western side Thursday as it transitions into a non-tropical storm system. The NHC's alert noted that the pressure difference between the storm and high pressure over the eastern U.S. will strengthen northeasterly winds along the coast.
