Offshore nor'easter brings wind and coastal flooding to East Coast

Key points

• The nor'easter is expected to bring several days of heavy rain, flooding, and strong winds to the East Coast.
• The storm is expected to stay far enough offshore that the heaviest rain will likely affect only the easternmost parts of the country.
• Flood advisories are in place from the Jersey Shore to the Outer Banks for 1-2 feet of inundation from onshore winds.
• The nor'easter could become a tropical storm, but if it does, it will only intensify as it continues east and away from the coast.
• A separate Pacific storm is expected to bring heavy rain, flooding, and mountain snow to the Southwest.

Background

This is the second major nor'easter to hit the East Coast in less than a month. In late September, a similar storm caused one death, widespread coastal flooding, and significant travel disruptions, knocking out power for over 100,000 customers and forcing the cancellation of major events. The September storm brought wind gusts up to 60 mph and waves reaching 20 feet, with some areas experiencing their worst flooding since Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

How outlets are covering it

NBC News emphasizes the potential for the nor'easter to become a tropical storm, noting a 40% chance of formation in two days and 40% in seven days, with the potential name Josephine. Yahoo focuses on the local impact in the Lehigh Valley, highlighting sunny skies and mild temperatures with gusts from the offshore low. Both outlets agree that the storm is expected to stay far enough offshore that the heaviest rain will likely affect only the easternmost parts of the country.

Why it matters

The nor'easter is expected to bring several days of heavy rain, flooding, and strong winds to the East Coast, with flood advisories in place from the Jersey Shore to the Outer Banks. The storm could become a tropical storm, but if it does, it will only intensify as it continues east and away from the coast. Meanwhile, a separate Pacific storm is bringing heavy rain, flooding, and mountain snow to the Southwest, with a flash flood risk in place from Southern California to the Rockies.

What to watch

The nor'easter is expected to continue moving east and away from the coast, with the potential to become a tropical storm. The Pacific storm is expected to bring heavy rain, flooding, and mountain snow to the Southwest through Thursday, with a flood threat in place for California and parts of the Southwest.