A rare, multi-day nor'easter is expected to significantly impact the East Coast from Friday through the weekend, affecting an estimated 33 million people from Virginia to Rhode Island. The storm, which began with gusty winds and early flooding on Thursday, is forecast to intensify, bringing heavy rain of 4 to 6 inches in some areas, and widespread totals of 1 to 3 inches from the Interstate 95 corridor to the coast. The Jersey Shore, Long Island, and coastal New England are anticipated to experience the highest rainfall.
Strong winds are a major concern, with gusts reaching up to 65 mph, particularly on Long Island and in New England through Saturday night. Coastal locations could see wind gusts up to 60 mph on Saturday, leading to potential travel delays and power outages, with Southeast New England facing the highest risk. The National Weather Service in Norton, Massachusetts, predicts peak wind gusts of 60 to 65 mph on Cape Cod and the nearby islands on Friday night and Saturday, and 50 to 55 mph around Boston. These strong winds, combined with leaves still on trees, increase the risk of downed limbs and subsequent power disruptions.
Coastal flooding is also a significant threat, with 1 to 4 feet of inundation expected due to winds pushing water onshore. Waves of 10 to 18 feet are forecast, with some sources indicating waves of 15 to 25 feet offshore. The storm's impact on coastal areas will be exacerbated by a full moon, causing higher tide levels to reach their peak around Saturday. This combination is expected to cause serious coastal flooding and significant beach erosion. Already, sections of North Carolina's Highway 12 were closed due to waves breaching protective dunes, and some streets in Norfolk, Virginia, were impassable due to flooding.
The storm's effects will be felt across a wide region. On Friday, the nor'easter will intensify as onshore winds increase from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, to Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Rain will begin on the Jersey Shore to eastern Massachusetts by Saturday and continue into Sunday. Even into Monday, the storm will still be spinning offshore, with continued rain and beach erosion, though winds are expected to weaken. Major airlines like United, American, and JetBlue are offering travel waivers for airports in the Mid-Atlantic and New England, including Philadelphia International Airport, due to anticipated flight disruptions. Events, such as the Oceans Calling music festival in Ocean City, Maryland, have already been canceled due to weather and beach erosion concerns.
