A slow nor'easter will damage Boston and New York coastlines
By Daniel Okafor · Reporting from New York ·
The East Coast faces a rare nor'easter in September that will damage coastal towns from North Carolina to New England. The storm is slow because it tracks close to the shore. The Washington Post said that tides higher than normal coincide with the system, a combination that creates a risk of beach erosion and flooding. Alyssa Glenney, an AccuWeather meteorologist, said that onshore winds and pounding surf could take a toll on communities. This pattern mirrors Hurricane Sandy. That storm's surge and winds caused catastrophic flooding in 2012.
The physics of a stall
The storm is a Perfect Storm, a confluence of events that drastically aggravates the situation. A rare combination of meteorological phenomena creates a damaging nor'easter. The Weather Channel said that the most significant flooding is forecast from the shore of New Jersey to the northern Outer Banks. These areas may see five or more high tides of flooding. The National Weather Service said nor'easters usually develop between November and March. Most attain maximum intensity near New England.
Can the storm move faster?
Some forecasters hope for a quick exit. The GFS model predicts the storm will reach New England by Saturday afternoon. The Weather Channel said a fast storm could mean less erosion and fewer disruptions. This is the strongest case for a mild weekend. But the European model suggests the low will move slower and stay close to the coast. Under this model, there is more time for winds to cause power outages and heavy rain. The European model is the one that matches the current coastal alerts.
Stalling storms destroy infrastructure
The storm will hit the infrastructure first. Wind gusts over 50 mph are possible in coastal New England and eastern Long Island. The Guardian said that gusts could reach 70mph in some places. The Weather Channel said that winds could bring sea rise up to 3ft above normal levels. These figures point to a system that will break trees and flood streets. The Weather Channel predicts tree damage and power outages in the Boston metro, Providence, and Cape Cod. Travel delays are most likely at Boston-Logan airport.
AccuWeather, a private company that has lobbied to privatize the National Weather Service, said a long-duration storm is coming. The facts support this warning. A storm that stalls is a storm that destroys. The slow pace of this nor'easter will turn a weather event into a coastal disaster.