Coastal Storm Could Become Tropical Storm Josephine as It Strengthens

Forecasters are growing more certain that a nor'easter is going to roar up the mid-Atlantic coast next week. Read on for all of the latest information about what is setting up to be a significant weather maker for millions of Americans.

Nor'easter Coming Together Off the East Coast

It has only been three weeks since the first nor'easter of the season swept up the Atlantic Seaboard. Yet another major storm is gearing up to unleash a new wave of high winds, coastal flooding, and beach erosion. This latest event will begin to take shape this weekend off the coast of the southeastern U.S., intensifying in the days ahead.

The nor'easter will come on the heels of a rocky weekend of weather for the Northeast. Thunderstorms and rain to start the weekend will give way to cold temperatures, gusty conditions, and the chance of snow in the interior portions over the weekend by Sunday.

The most notable coastal impacts associated with the nor'easter are forecast to ignite near the center of the storm. This will put areas such as the Outer Banks of North Carolina, the southeastern corner of Virginia, and the coastal towns in Delaware and Maryland in the bullseye.

The latest forecast models are predicting winds of 40 to 60 mph in a zone from Cape Lookout, North Carolina, to southern New Jersey. The greatest concentration of high winds will center in an area from the Outer Banks up through southeastern Virginia.

Depending on how close the storm tracks to the coast, flooding rainfall is also a good possibility. The most potent bands of rain are likely to target the eastern Carolinas up through New Jersey.

The silver lining is that this nor'easter is not expected to be as volatile as its predecessor at the end of September. That said, the storm's long duration could translate to more severe impacts for the vulnerable areas of the Outer Banks to the north into Virginia. For instance, Route 12 in the Outer Banks may be forced to close due to overwash and other types of damage.

In addition to Route 12, other coastal roads and low-lying urban areas could be dealing with street flooding. This threat will be the highest in beach communities during times of high tide. Unlike the late September nor'easter, this upcoming event is not hitting during the approach of a full moon cycle, helping to limit the acute impacts.

However, the long duration of this storm will mean that there will be several high-tide cycles, amplifying the coastal flooding threat over time. Tides of 2 to 3 feet above normal readings are likely during the course of the storm. Higher levels of 4 to 6 feet above typical tides may affect a more concentrated area from southeastern Virginia down into northeastern North Carolina.