Noreaster set to hit East Coast on Friday and continue through weekend
Millions of Americans are gearing up for a rare, multiday nor’easter that is set to start pummeling the Northeast with rain, wind and flooding Friday.Coastal flood alerts are in effect for 33 million people along the East Coast as of Friday morning, affecting states from Virginia to Rhode Island.
The storm already brought gusty winds and early flooding across the Eastern Seaboard on Thursday, with rough waves pounding shorelines.Winds up to 65 mph are forecast, with the strongest winds expected through Saturday night on Long Island in New York and in New England.
Heavy rain bands — up to 4 to 6 inches — will hit the area Saturday and into Sunday, and winds will push water onto shore, with 1 to 4 feet of inundation expected.Widespread 1 to 3 inches of rain is possible from the Interstate 95 corridor to the coast.
The Jersey Shore, Long Island and coastal New England are the locations likely to see the highest rain totals.Waves of 10 to 18 feet are expected, with coastal flooding forecasts of 1 to 4 feet depending on the area.Lido Beach in New York on Friday morning.Shannon Stapleton / ReutersThe system is expected to intensify as it moves north.
It will come onshore around New Jersey.On Friday, the nor’easter will intensify as onshore winds increase from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, to Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
By Saturday, rain will begin from the Jersey Shore to eastern Massachusetts and is expected to last all day.Saturday will also feature the highest wind potential, with wind gusts that could reach 60 mph in coastal locations.Rain will continue for the Northeast and New England on Sunday, as beaches continue to take a beating from the strong onshore winds.The storm will still be spinning just off the coast Monday.
While winds will be weaker, rain and beach erosion will continue.Winds are expected to lead to travel delays and power outages into Monday.Southeast New England faces the highest risk of power outages because of the strongest wind poten...