Nor’easters

When you hear grizzled New England fishermen talk about the storm of the century, they’re referring to a “nor’easter.” A nor’easter is a powerful coastal storm that forms along the U.S. East Coast. The name comes from the strong winds that usually run counterclockwise from the northeast as the storm’s center sits as a low-pressure system just offshore.

How Nor’easters Form

Also known as “extratropical cyclones,” these storms typically develop along the coast between Georgia and New Jersey. The current one is the first significant event of the season, which usually stretches from September to April.

Nor’easters are fueled by a major collision of two contrasting air masses:

• Polar dry air bringing frigid arctic weather southward from Canada
• Warm, moist air from the Gulf and the relatively warm Gulfstream traveling northward.

The result is a rapid drop in atmospheric pressure 100 miles off the coast, causing a massive low-pressure cyclone. Low-pressure systems in the Northern Hemisphere spin counterclockwise, so the ocean side of the storm pulls air from the north and east, which quickly forms a battering ram on coastal regions.

Are Nor’easters Always Blizzards? 

Nor’easters aren’t necessarily blizzards. People often associate Nor-easters with heavy snow, but it’s not necessarily the case. It all depends on the temperature and track of the storm. You can get snow, rain, or sleet. Expect a lot of surf causing beach erosion and coastal flooding. Inland, blizzard conditions are common.

Winds can be severe, sometimes reaching hurricane-force levels. Widespread power outages, fallen trees, damage to sea walls, and airport closures add to the misery for those affected.

Speaking of hurricanes, what’s the difference between a nor’easter and a hurricane? When you look at a radar map, they look almost the same, but they’re different, all right:

It should be noted that a hurricane that moves far north and loses tropical characteristics can sometimes merge with or even become a nor’easter-like system. Therefore, preparing for a nor’easter is pretty similar to preparing for a hurricane (beware, Floridians, you can be next). For my article on  hurricane preparedness, go here: https://www.doomandbloom.net/30-hurricane-strategies/

Meteorologists not uncommonly forecast strong East Coast lows with northeasterly winds and messy weather. Some of hthese storms, however, are renowned for their intensity. Nor’easters of famous fury have been recorded since the 1800s. Examples include the Blizzard of 1888, the Blizzard of 1978, and the March 1993 “Storm of the Century.”  This is a new century; despite the current nor’easter and several intense events in the 2010s, we haven’t yet seen the “storm of THIS century.” Let’s hope it happens in 2099.

Joe Alton MD

Dr. Alton