A powerful nor’easter is bringing strong winds, heavy rain, and coastal flooding to the East Coast, prompting water rescues and road closures as it moves north. The storm, with wind gusts comparable to a tropical storm, is impacting areas from North Carolina to southern New England.
The storm is causing widespread disruption, with tens of thousands of power outages reported and potential for critically important travel delays. While not classified as a tropical storm, the nor’easter’s sustained winds of 40 to 55 mph (64 to 88.5 km/h), and gusts exceeding 55 mph from New Jersey to southern New England, are capable of downing trees and unsecured objects. Approximately 10,000 customers in North Carolina and 5,000 in New Jersey were without power Sunday night, according to Poweroutage.us. Major airports in Washington,New York,and Boston are bracing for potential flight delays and cancellations on Monday.
Rainfall totals of 25 to 76 mm are expected along the East Coast,with some areas in eastern North Carolina and southeastern new England possibly receiving up to 127 mm,raising concerns about localized flash flooding. The storm is expected to weaken or move away from the coast by Tuesday, with high pressure bringing drier conditions and decreasing winds.
