HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — A powerful storm system moved up the East Coast, bringing hurricane-force winds, flooding, and high surf to coastal residents Sunday through Monday.
The system led to significant coastal erosion along the Jersey Shore, a water rescue off Cape Cod’s coast, and coastal flooding from North Carolina to Maine.
A Nor’Easter gets its name from the powerful winds out of the northeast. The systems can form at any time of year, but are strongest between September and April. The systems will develop roughly 100 miles off the coast and then track northeast along the coastline.
Dangerous rip currents, strong winds, heavy rain, and flooding are the main threats Nor’Easters can pose for the region. During the winter months, these systems can produce significant snowfalls as arctic cold air filters down from Canada.
The graphic on the left shows the weather setup for a Nor’Easter, with the strong low-pressure system developing off the coast. The upper-level jet stream plays an important role in how strong a system can get. The other key factor to the strength of a Nor’Easter is the warm, unstable airmass from the Atlantic.
The water along the East Coast remains warm during the winter months because of the Gulfstream. As the arctic cold air flows over the warm waters during the winter, it helps to strengthen the system.
The post Nor’Easter breakdown that impacted the East Coast appeared first on WHNT.
