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Nor’easter Intensifies Off East Coast, Threatens New England Flooding

By Drooid · Sep 22, 2026, 11:25 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Nor'easter Threatens New England

A developing nor'easter off the U.S. East Coast could bring hurricane-force winds and heavy rain to New England.
The storm formed Wednesday in the western Atlantic near North Carolina and Virginia.
Forecasters expect the system to intensify as it moves northward over the next few days.
Uncertainty about the storm’s track and strength could affect Friday-weekend impacts along the New England coast.

Summary

StormTeam 5 Monitors

StormTeam 5 operates the region’s only 24/7 live radar, improving real-time storm monitoring.
Meteorologist Kelly Ann Cicalese said the nor’easter could develop an eye-like feature, a rare trait.
A full moon Saturday will cause astronomical high tides, raising flood risk on low-lying coastal roads.
NBC10 Boston urges residents to follow the “turn around, don’t drown” campaign to avoid flood accidents.

History

Historical Context

The Great New England Hurricane of 1938, striking on September 21, 1938, devastated coastal towns and generated wind gusts exceeding 115 mph. The U.S. Weather Bureau recorded $306 million in damages (1938 dollars) and prompted the Army Corps of Engineers to begin systematic shoreline fortifications. Today's nor'easter mirrors that historic storm as StormTeam 5’s radar, NBC10 Boston, and meteorologist Kelly Ann Cicalese warn of hurricane-force winds and full-moon-driven tides. The 1938 precedent urges coastal municipalities like Boston and Providence to enforce turn-around-don’t-drown advisories, reducing future flood fatalities.

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Nor'easter Threatens New England

A developing nor'easter off the U.S. East Coast could bring hurricane-force winds and heavy rain to New England.
The storm formed Wednesday in the western Atlantic near North Carolina and Virginia.
Forecasters expect the system to intensify as it moves northward over the next few days.
Uncertainty about the storm’s track and strength could affect Friday-weekend impacts along the New England coast.

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