A strengthening nor’easter is beginning its charge up the East Coast, lashing North Carolina’s Outer Banks and the Mid-Atlantic coast with more intense wind and high tide flooding. Meanwhile, the storm’s outer rainbands will begin to soak the New York City metro area and southern New England by mid-afternoon Friday and intensify as the storm’s peak impacts arrive Saturday.
THE TAKEAWAY
Friday – A powerful nor’easter begins charge up the East Coast; I-95 corridor from North Carolina to Maine will see impacts through the weekend.Saturday – Boston Metro & Coastal Massachusetts: Pounding rain, street flooding, and powerful wind gusts of 50-60 mph late in the evening.Saturday – Long Island & NYC Corridor: Strong 40-50 mph wind gusts, driving heavy wave action along south-facing ocean beaches. Saturday – OBX & New Jersey: Waves remain extremely high (15–18 ft) with ongoing severe beach erosion and persistent inundation during high tide cycles.
A strengthening nor’easter is threatening millions as it begins its charge up the East Coast, lashing North Carolina‘s Outer Banks and the Mid-Atlantic coast with more intense wind, severe beach erosion and high tide flooding.
Meanwhile, the storm’s outer rainbands will begin to soak the New York City metro area and southern New England by mid-afternoon Friday and intensify as the storm’s peak impacts arrive across both the Mid-Atlantic and New England Saturday.
Nor’easter FOX Weather Threat Zone.
(FOX Weather)
The storm is expected to intensify as it tracks north along the coast through the weekend, bringing prolonged rain, strong winds and coastal flooding through the weekend, with the potential for power outages across impacted areas from North Carolina to Maine, particularly for communities closest to the coast.
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According to the FOX Forecast Center, the worst impacts are expected from Friday night through Sunday across the Boston metro area, the North and South Shores of Massachusetts, Cape Cod, and coastal Rhode Island and Connecticut, where peak wind gusts could reach 50 to 65 mph, rainfall could exceed 5 inches and coastal inundation is possible.
Northeast Rain.
(FOX Weather)
Major travel hubs across the Northeast could face significant disruptions from the storm, with heavy rain, gusty winds and coastal flooding creating difficult conditions along the I-95 corridor and other major highways, with flight delays and cancellations possible at major airports across the region.
Nor’easter Wind Gust Swath.
(FOX Weather)
Major coastal flooding is already ongoing from New Jersey to North Carolina as the storm takes shape, with far-reaching impacts battering beaches and the worst still to come.
N.C. 12, the main roadway through North Carolina’s Outer Banks, was closed between the Marc C. Basnight Bridge and Rodanthe after ocean water overtook the road during a strong nor’easter.
(North Carolina DOT)
Nor’easter intensifies, takes aim at East Coast Friday
The strengthening storm will consolidate and intensify Friday, unleashing pounding surf, heavy rain and rising winds from the Outer Banks to New York City and southern New England.
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Across the Outer Banks and Mid-Atlantic, wind gusts will reach 40 to 50 mph, while winds just off the coast could approach 60 mph. Offshore waves will peak at 15 to 18 feet. Trapped water will prevent drainage, escalating coastal flooding during high tides.
Friday Coastal Flood Alerts.
(FOX Weather)
Along the Jersey Shore, onshore wind gusts will reach 35 to 45 mph, with widespread moderate high-tide flooding.
People prepare their boats for an upcoming nor’easter at Duxbury Harbor on September 23, 2026.
(David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images / Getty Images)
In New York City, rain will begin by mid-afternoon as wind gusts build throughout the day. Gusts of up to 40 mph will be likely. Coastal flooding will be possible late Friday in eastern and northern Queens, as well as parts of southern Brooklyn and Staten Island.
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From Long Island to southern New England and Boston, light showers will arrive Friday afternoon into the evening, beginning in southeastern Massachusetts and spreading toward Boston, with wind gusts building to 40 mph by late Friday night.
Coastal Flood Alerts.
(FOX Weather)
Nor’easter peaks Saturday as impacts intensify
The nor’easter is expected to peak Saturday, unleashing its worst impacts across New England with heavy rain bands, powerful winds, severe coastal flooding and beach erosion.
Boston and coastal Massachusetts will likely experience the worst overall impacts, including pounding rain, street flooding and powerful wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph late in the evening.
Nor’easter Future Track.
(FOX Weather)
Across Long Island and the New York City corridor, strong northeast winds with gusts of 40 to 50 mph will drive heavy wave action along south-facing ocean beaches.
Beach erosion and tidal flooding will begin during the morning hours along Long Island Sound and South Shore bays. Coastal flooding will also be monitored in Long Island Sound into the East River.
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From the Outer Banks to New Jersey, waves will remain extremely high at 15 to 18 feet, with ongoing severe beach erosion and persistent inundation during high-tide cycles.
A navigational buoy washed ashore in Dewey Beach, Delaware, as nor’easter swells pummeled the coast.
(Taylor Hayden)
Nor’easter continues to batter the Northeast Sunday
The storm will remain near peak intensity Sunday as it meanders close to the coast, prolonging coastal flooding and heavy rain bands across areas already battered by days of nor’easter impacts.
Boston and coastal New England will see continued rain bands and very gusty winds, with gusts potentially approaching 60 mph.
Nor’easter Power Outage Forecast.
(FOX Weather)
High tides combined with trapped water will keep the threat of coastal flooding and severe beach loss elevated through both the morning and evening high-tide cycles. Rain will continue to intensify, increasing the inland flood threat.
In New York City, some of the worst winds could occur on this day, with winds approaching 45 mph depending on the low’s position.
Across New Jersey and the Mid-Atlantic, rain will begin to clear out, but water levels will remain high, keeping moderate flooding in place through the morning high tide.
Nor’easter Flood Threat in New England.
(FOX Weather)
Nor’easter weakens into the workweek
As Monday rolls around, the storm will have weakened and inland conditions will have clearing inland conditions, though high surf leftovers continue, not to the extent of earlier in the week.
Coastal waters and beaches from Cape Cod to the Outer Banks will see seas slowly subside, though rough surf, beach erosion and minor residual high-tide flooding will take a couple of days to fully clear.
North Carolina coastal flooding.
(FOX Weather Senior Correspondent Robert Ray)
Persistent light rain will continue to pinwheel around the nor’easter as the storm moves away from the coast.
Stay with FOX Weather for the latest as we continue to track this developing storm.