Saturday, October 18, 2014

Nor'easter May Bring Heavy Rain, Strong Winds, Beach Erosion To The Northeast, Mid-Atlantic

By Linda Lam
Published: October 18,2014





 
A nor'easter may develop by the middle of the week and it could be a long duration event for some.
An upper-level area of low pressure will slide southeast from the Great Lakes and develop a surface low off the Mid-Atlantic coast Tuesday night. This low will then remain off the New England coast through at least Thursday. The low will also deepen as it meanders off the Eastern Seaboard.
This low will combine with a strong surface high pressure system in eastern Canada to create a tight pressure gradient which will bring strong winds into the Northeast.
The subtropical jet stream will also move north which will bring tropical moisture northward, enhancing the rainfall across the region.
Anywhere from the northern Mid-Atlantic to New England will likely be affected by heavy rain and strong winds. The exact track of the low will determine the timing and location of the heaviest rain and strongest winds.
(FORECAST: Washington, DC | New York | Boston | Portland, Maine)
The strongest winds and heaviest rain will most likely occur on Wednesday and Thursday, with over five inches of rain possible in some areas of Maine.
Excessive rainfall and localized flooding, especially near rivers and streams, are likely. The good news is that the cold air will stay locked up in Canada, so snow is not anticipated during this event. There is only a slight chance of a mix of light rain and snow over the highest elevations of New England early Tuesday, before the main event.
With that said, the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast needs to ready for localized flooding, high surf and beach erosion starting midweek and continuing through Friday.

What is a Nor'easter?

A nor'easter gets its name from the strong northeasterly winds blowing over coastal areas. They are most common between September and April and form off the East Coast of the U.S.
Nor'easters usually develop where cold air from Canada meets warm air from the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic. The Gulf Stream remains relatively warm during the fall and winter, which helps warm the colder air over the water. This temperature difference then fuels the storms.
Nor'easters are not always associated with snow, though wintry conditions do occur during these events. Typical nor'easters do bring heavy rain, strong winds, coastal flooding and beach erosion to the eastern coast of the U.S.

No comments:

Post a Comment