Rare Early Season Nor'easter Threatens East Coast

Forecasters say a rare early-season nor'easter could develop off the U.S. East Coast late this week, bringing rain, wind, coastal flooding and beach erosion to multiple states from North Carolina through New England. The National Weather Service projects heavy rain on Friday, Sept. 25, and Saturday, Sept. 26, in New York and New England, including Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Impacts are expected to begin earlier, with increased rain and coastal flooding risks in eastern North Carolina on Thursday, Sept. 24. The NWS in Morehead City warned of hazardous marine conditions beginning Wednesday, with dangerous surf, beach erosion and potential ocean overwash at vulnerable locations along the Outer Banks. Nor'easters are large, intense areas of low pressure that typically develop off the East Coast, named for the strong northeast winds they drive along the Atlantic Coast. They most commonly occur from November through April, making a late-September storm unusual. Meteorologist Ben Noll said only about 1 percent of nor'easters have historically occurred during September.