‘Destructive’ nor’easter is set to slam the Northeast with deadly flooding and hurricane-force winds
Por Isabel Keane — – World RSS Feed
‘Destructive’ nor’easter is set to slam the Northeast with deadly flooding and hurricane-force winds
Meteorologists warn of potential tree falls and power outages as the East Coast braces for a fierce storm
Isabel Keane in New York Thursday 24 September 2026 16:19 BST
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A nor’easter is set to slam the East Coast over the weekend, dumping heavy rain and unleashing hurricane-force winds on residents living in North Carolina all the way up to Maine.
Forecasters warn of major coastal flooding, dangerous surf and strong rip currents as the storm takes shape off the coast of North Carolina Thursday before its set to head north over the weekend. The inclement weather will coincide with a full moon, which will contribute to high tides and coastal flooding.
“This storm may be remembered for its destructive coastal flooding and severe beach erosion, especially along eastern Long Island and the Massachusetts coast,” AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter said.
Strong wind gusts topping 40 mph from North Carolina to New York are pushing ocean and bay waters toward shore, and meteorologists say flooding will be at its worst through Friday in the mid-Atlantic region.
The most significant flooding will be from southern New Jersey to the northern Outer Banks of North Carolina, according to The Weather Channel.
open image in galleryWater levels are expected to rise 2-3 feet above the average monthly tide level, with some areas seeing water go six feet above that level. The worst flooding is expected in Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay, according to AccuWeather.
Southeastern New England will see the heaviest rainfall, with the brunt of the storm expected to hit from Friday night through Saturday night in parts of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Maine.
Some urban areas like Boston may even see flash flooding, forecasters warned.
However, damaging winds may pose an even greater threat to the region, as forecasters say gusts could reach hurricane-force and cause trees to topple and take down power lines.
“Many trees still have their leaves, which catch more wind and place additional strain on their roots, further increasing the risk for trees to come down and may also increase the number of power outages as compared to similar storms,” Porter said.
open image in galleryMeteorologists also warned that heavy rain from last week has left soil moist, increasing the likelihood of trees being uprooted by strong winds.
Periods of heavy rainfall may also lead to flooding. Forecasters predict rainfall will total 1-2 inches from northeastern New Jersey to coastal Maine, while central Massachusetts to the coast will see anywhere from 4-8 inches.
Forecasters warned the storm could take on some characteristics that resemble a tropical storm.
“Given that the developing nor’easter will be slowly moving over the very warm water of the Gulf Stream for two or three days, the storm may take on some characteristics that would resemble a tropical storm. Such hybrid storms are called subtropical storms,” Porter said. “Regardless of classification, the storm will be impactful, especially for coastal areas.”
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northeastEast CoastNorth CarolinaMaineAccuweatherThe Weather Channeltropical storm
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