Nor'easter could hammer East Coast with heavy rain, high winds and coastal flooding this weekend
Anywhere from the Carolinas to southern New England is at risk of being impacted by the potentially strong coastal storm beginning Friday. Days of heavy rain, high winds, dangerous rip currents and high surf are likely if the storm develops as expected.
Powerful nor'easter to slam East Coast beginning Friday
A nor'easter is forecast to move up the East Coast starting Friday offshore Georgia and the Carolinas. The system will bring coastal flooding, strong wind gusts and heavy rain. A Level 2 out of 4 flash flood risk has been issued covers coastal North Carolina on Saturday. An even larger Level 2 out of 4 flash flood risk now includes coastal North Carolina through New York's Long Island on Sunday, including New York City and Philadelphia.
NEW YORK – A powerful area of low pressure is expected to develop along the East Coast this weekend and pack heavy rain, high winds and bring coastal flooding to the Carolinas, mid-Atlantic and potentially other parts of the Eastern Seaboard.
The coastal storm will likely be of the nor’easter variety, meaning it will pack strong winds that blow from the northeast and heavy precipitation.
Anywhere from the Carolinas to southern New England is at risk of being impacted by the potentially strong coastal storm beginning Friday. Days of heavy rain, high winds, dangerous rip currents and high surf are likely if the storm develops as expected.
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(FOX Weather)
FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross said Tuesday that persistent wind gusts could be the biggest impact of this system.
"Very often, as we've seen, it's those persistent winds that don't allow essentially the high tide to come completely out," Norcross said. "That's when we get the coastal problems."
How far north the area of low pressure will make it up the coast still remains something of an open question.
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As the low-pressure system develops off the Southeast, heavy rain will create a flash flooding threat from the Carolinas to the mid-Atlantic this weekend.
NOAA's Weather Prediction Center has issued a Level 2 out of 4 flash flood risk for most of the North Carolina coast beginning Saturday. Parts of the Chesapeake Bay and the Virginia and Maryland coasts are also under a flood threat.
"We have a couple of vulnerable spots that we need to be mindful of here, one of which is the Outer Banks," FOX Weather Meteorologist Kiyana Lewis said. "Yes, you are part of this story, that could see some significant surf, possibly some more beach erosion."
An even larger Level 2 out of 4 flash flood risk now includes coastal North Carolina through New York's Long Island on Sunday, including New York City and Philadelphia.
(FOX Weather)
While the term nor’easter conjures images of winter weather, cold air will not be in place during this storm. This means all the precipitation will be of the liquid variety along the heavily populated Interstate 95 corridor.
According to the FOX Forecast Center, rain closer to the coast looks to amount to a widespread 2-3 inches through Monday. Localized amounts closer to 3-5 inches are possible, with wind gusts of 30-50 mph possible along the Northeast coast through Sunday and into early Monday.
An overview of the forecast for a possible nor'easter this weekend.
(FOX Weather)