Brewing nor’easter threatens East Coast with days of coastal flooding, strong winds and pounding surf
The next fall nor’easter is on the way and is expected to form off the North Carolina coast on Sunday, setting the stage for extensive impacts throughout next week.
The next fall nor’easter is on the way and is expected to form off the North Carolina coast on Sunday, setting the stage for extensive impacts throughout next week.
The National Hurricane Center is now highlighting this area for potential tropical development, with a 30% chance over the next seven days.
Regardless of tropical development, the Outer Banks are expected to see long-term impacts, including intense wind gusts from the approaching nor’easter, while the storm sits off the coast.
The main concern for the Outer Banks region will be intense wind gusts as strong as 40 to 60 mph, fueling moderate coastal flooding and destructive waves.
A mandatory evacuation for locals on Hatteras Island is in effect, as storm conditions are expected to worsen Sunday, with the potential for significant ocean overwash.
According to the FOX Forecast Center, the impacts will last through late Wednesday evening and into Thursday, totaling three days of nasty storms with ferocious wind gusts.
The worst of the flooding will stretch from the Outer Banks into Chesapeake Bay and up through Ocean City, Maryland.
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During the nor’easter, the roughest waves and high tide will occur from noon to 4 p.m., with conditions getting slightly worse over time.
By Thursday, the impacts will begin to fade, but will persist to some degree, according to the FOX Forecast Center.
Forecast models are unsure how close the nor’easter will get to the coast, but it could hover near land before fading away.
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One thing is certain: if the nor’easter approaches closer to land than expected, impacts such as rain, winds and larger waves causing coastal erosion will increase significantly.
The Outer Banks region is all too familiar with the destructive qualities associated with these storms, as coastal erosion along with intense surf will threaten numerous communities as homes in the past have fallen victim to the severe weather.
The nor’easter is expected to retain its frontal characteristics, so it is unlikely to become fully tropical even if it were to form over warm water.
Nonetheless, impacts across portions of the East Coast are inevitable, but are expected to be limited, including showers, gusty winds and coastal flooding from high surf, as the nor’easter lingers off land.
As a result, coastal flood alerts are active for coastal North Carolina and Virginia, where water levels could rise 2 to 4 feet.
The FOX Forecast Center will continue to monitor the system for any changes in its track, intensity or expected impacts.
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