Strengthening nor’easter threatens East Coast with floods, outages

Strengthening nor'easter threatens East Coast with floods, outages. Natalie Neysa Alund USA TODAY.

Key points

• Coastal flood warnings are in effect for Virginia Beach, Virginia; Dover, Delaware; and Atlantic City, New Jersey.
• "Areas in Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Newport News, Virginia, will be inundated for hours at a time." New Jersey, Virginia flooding.
• 25, the large-scale, low-pressure storm system was responsible for major coastal flooding and beach erosion from North Carolina to New Jersey.
• Water levels will be 2 to 3 feet above the average monthly tide level, AccuWeather documented, with some locations approaching more than 6 feet.
• A stormy weekend predicted throughout the Northeast could impact millions as the National Weather Service is warning to brace for its impact.

Strengthening nor'easter threatens East Coast with floods, outages. Natalie Neysa Alund USA TODAY. Powerful nor'easter projected to bring up to 20-foot waves in Northeast.

In practice, a stormy weekend predicted throughout the Northeast could impact millions as the National Weather Service is warning to brace for its impact.

Meanwhile, a strengthening nor'easter moving up the East Coast is projected to last through the weekend, with deteriorating conditions spawning even stronger winds and more flooding.

As of midday on Sept. 25, the large-scale, low-pressure storm system was responsible for major coastal flooding and beach erosion from North Carolina to New Jersey.

Named for the solid northeasterly winds that blow in from the Atlantic Ocean and throughout coastal states, the Nor'easter is forecast to bring more rain from North Carolina as far north as New England, with significant impacts projected in the Outer Banks, New Jersey, Boston and New York City. Power outages are probable, according to AccuWeather's latest forecast.

In practice, the solid storm, taking place through the weekend's full moon, will raise tide levels and lead to major coastal flooding, meteorologists predict. Pounding surf will cause "extensive beach erosion" from North Carolina to southern Maine. Dangerous rip currents will extend as far south as Florida's Atlantic coast, according to the forecast.

"This will be a long-duration event through multiple tide cycles well into this weekend, leading to major coastal flooding and beach erosion as well as strong winds pushing on trees for a longer period of time, " AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter remarked. "Expect not only coastal inundation from storm surge, but also areas of urban flooding away from the coast, as well as regional power outages."

Coastal flood warnings are in effect for Virginia Beach, Virginia; Dover, Delaware; and Atlantic City, New Jersey. The most severe flooding is projected from the northern Outer Banks to the South Jersey shore.

Flooding will be worse around high tide through the night of Sept. 25 in much of the mid-Atlantic region.

Some airlines are offering flexibility to travelers who could be impacted. The after carriers have waivers in place for weather along the East Coast.

"The worst conditions are forecast for southeastern Virginia, where water will become trapped at the lower end of the Chesapeake Bay, causing backups along the region's tidal rivers, " Accuweather wrote in a Sept. 25 post. "Areas in Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Newport News, Virginia, will be inundated for hours at a time." New Jersey, Virginia flooding.

Near the New Jersey and Virginia coasts, tidal flooding will continue through the weekend. Tides are projected to be 2 to 3 feet above the monthly average, with some areas 4-5 feet above average throughout the northern New Jersey coast through southeastern New York.

Tides are projected to gradually drop throughout the mid-Atlantic coast starting on Sept. 27. Fly a different day? These airlines are issuing waivers against the backdrop of nor'easter. Impacts in New England.

Southeastern New England will additionally bear the brunt of the storm starting Sept. 25 through the evening of Sept. 28.

In practice, the worst of the storm is projected from the evening of Sept. 25 through the evening or Sept. 26 in Rhode Island, central and eastern Massachusetts, Connecticut, Long Island, New York, southeastern New Hampshire and the southern Maine coast.

Natalie Neysa Alund covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund. SMS Facebook Twitter Email. Share your feedback to support improve our site! Share your feedback to support improve our site!

In short, strengthening noreaster threatens East Coast with floods, outages is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.