Powerful Nor'easter threatens travel with major flooding along East Coast
Powerful Nor'easter threatens travel with major flooding along East Coast
Amira TurnerMon, September 21, 2026 at 7:05 PM UTC
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Weather forecasters say East Coasters can expect strong winds, heavy rain, and flooding this week -Credit:Zoom Earth
Weather forecasters say East Coasters can expect strong winds, heavy rain, and flooding this week, brought on by the season's first Nor’easter.
The storm is expected to form late Wednesday to Thursday, off the coast of North Carolina, kicking off the fall season, which starts Tuesday, Sept. 22.
Nor’easters are low-pressure systems that form in Southeastern North America and intensify as they travel North along the East Coast. Nor’easters form when cold, upper-level air is pushed above low-altitude air, forming a cyclone.
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Nor’easters can cause heavy winds, coastal erosion, flooding, rain, and snow. They usually occur between September and April, but are most common in late winter.
The last Nor’easter occurred in February of 2026, causing blizzards all throughout the Northeast.
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AccuWeather reports that because it’s so early in the season, the Nor’easter may take on traits of tropical storms. They forecast winds of up to 30-40 miles per hour along the Atlantic, with the highest coastal erosion impacts around the Virginia Beach area.
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A map posted by the National Weather Service shows potential heavy rain and thunderstorms throughout the Northeast, and flooding in central Appalachia.
High tides are expected to cause coastal flooding from North Carolina to New York this Tuesday through Friday, and possibly into the weekend. Fox Weather predicts that coastal areas could see waves up to 15 to 18 feet. The most severe impacts of the storm are expected to be on beaches across the Mid-East and Long Island.
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Impacts of the storm are dependent on its track. If the storm shifts towards Boston, the New England area may see a major storm surge with heavy rains and winds up to 60 to 70 miles per hour.
If the storm moves towards New Jersey, the storm will have bigger impacts in the Southeast.
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While less likely, the storm may remain offshore of the Mid-Atlantic, causing heavy-rain over the ocean, and high tides in coastal New England.
Ocean over wash from the storm is forecasted to affect coastal roads, including Highway 12.
Northbound jet streams will continue to bring fall weather, blowing cooler air throughout the Northeast, with highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s.
Source: “AOL Breaking”
