It’s only late September, but the first nor’easter of the season is upon us.
An early nor’easter is predicted to potentially hit the East Coast of the United States later this week, with winds picking up as early as later today, according to The Weather Channel.
The storm could bring travel disruption and potential flooding throughout the coastal states, including New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts. The path of the storm was still uncertain as of early Tuesday.
“Regardless of how close to the coast the storm tracks, it has the potential to become strong enough to bring soaking rain and gusty winds in coastal areas, while prolonged rough surf may cause well above-normal tides and beach erosion,” warns AccuWeather senior meteorologist Chad Merrill.
In a potential silver lining, Merrill adds that “the rain could extend far enough north to ease the ongoing drought in Maine.”
What is a nor’easter?
While they’re typically associated with snow and ice storms, nor’easters are any storms along the coast with winds from the northeast, according to the National Weather Service.
They typically occur between September and April, so this week’s storm is very early in the season.
