Nor'easter to bring heavy rain and coastal flooding this weekend

A powerful nor'easter is forecast to strike the U.S. East Coast this weekend, bringing heavy rain, strong onshore winds and dangerous coastal conditions from the mid-Atlantic into New England. Forecasters say the system will form off the Carolina coast Saturday night and track northward, with the most significant impacts expected Sunday into Monday for coastal New Jersey, New York City, Long Island, Connecticut and parts of Massachusetts.

Meteorologists expect sustained winds of 30 to 40 miles per hour along the Jersey Shore, with gusts as high as 50 miles per hour in some areas. Those winds, combined with persistent onshore flow, high surf and astronomical high tides, create an elevated risk of moderate to major coastal flooding, beach erosion and very hazardous marine conditions. Officials also warned of strong rip currents along many beaches.

Rainfall amounts will vary by location. Coastal areas could see several inches of rain, with local totals up to 3 to 5 inches possible, while interior communities are more likely to receive around 1 to 2 inches, and some inland spots could see higher amounts. The Lehigh Valley and much of southeastern Pennsylvania face roughly a 50...