A strengthening nor'easter moving up the East Coast on Sept. 25 is expected to last through the weekend, with deteriorating conditions spawning even stronger winds and coastal flooding.
The large-scale low-pressure storm system will bring more rain from North Carolina to New England, with significant impacts expected in the Outer Banks, New Jersey, Boston and New York City.
Power outages are likely, according to AccuWeather's latest forecast.
Nor'easters are named for the strong northeasterly winds that blow in from the Atlantic Ocean and across coastal states.
The strong storm, taking place through the weekend's full moon, will raise tide levels and lead to major coastal flooding, meteorologists predict. Pounding surf will cause "extensive beach
erosion" from North Carolina to southern Maine. Dangerous rip currents will extend as far south as Florida's Atlantic coast, according to the forecast.
"This storm may be remembered for its destructive coastal flooding and severe beach erosion, especially along eastern Long Island and the Massachusetts coast," AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter said.
Coastal flood warnings are in effect for Virginia Beach, Virginia; Dover, Delaware; and Atlantic City, New Jersey. The most severe flooding expected from the northern Outer Banks to the southern New Jersey shore.
Flooding will be worse around high tide through the night of Sept. 25 in much of the mid-Atlantic region.
Some airlines areoffering flexibility to travelers who could be impacted. The following carriers have waivers in place for weather along the East Coast:
- American Airlines
- JetBlue
- Southwest Airlines
- United Airlines
A #StormWarning is in place this morning along the Northeastern U.S. coast as a nor’easter strengthens in the western Atlantic. @NOAA’s #GOESEast (#GOES19) 🛰️ captured this water vapor imagery of the region, where #CoastalFloodAdvisories and #CoastalFloodWarnings have also been… pic.twitter.com/L9Zsd7idnz
— NOAA Satellites (@NOAASatellites) September 25, 2026
Water levels will be 2 to 3 feet above the average monthly tide level, AccuWeather reported, with some locations approaching more than 6 feet.
"The worst conditions are forecast for southeastern Virginia, where water will become trapped at the lower end of the Chesapeake Bay, causing backups along the region's tidal rivers," Accuweather wrote in a Sept. 25 post. "Areas in Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Newport News, Virginia, will be inundated for hours at a time."
Rough surf tore apart a stretch of Highway 12 on North Carolina’s Outer Banks as a strengthening Nor’easter brought coastal flooding and powerful winds on Thursday. https://t.co/jRs0bfbata pic.twitter.com/lQyrkQ55xt
— AccuWeather (@accuweather) September 24, 2026
Rip currents expected
Rip currents are possible this weekend along the East Coast from Maine to Florida. Always follow advice from the local beach patrol and flag warning systems. And check your beach forecast before heading out: https://t.co/pEnS4aWeGb https://t.co/pRfqmbLMTj pic.twitter.com/FB5uAgsFLX
— National Weather Service (@NWS) September 25, 2026
New Jersey, Virginia flooding
Near the New Jersey coast, tidal flooding will continue through the weekend in Virginia. Tides are expected to be 2-3 feet above the monthly average, with some areas 4-5 feet above average throughout the northern New Jersey coast through southeastern New York.
Tides are expected to gradually decrease throughout the mid-Atlantic coast starting on Sept. 27.
Impacts in New England
Southeastern New England will also bear the brunt of the storm starting Sept. 25 through the evening of Sept. 28.
The worst of the storm is expected from the evening of Sept. 25 through the evening or Sept. 26 in Rhode Island, central and eastern Massachusetts, Connecticut, Long Island, New York, southeastern New Hampshire and the southern Maine coast.
Natalie Neysa Alund covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Strengthening nor'easter threatens East Coast with floods, outages
