A nor’easter is expected to strengthen off the East Coast this weekend, bringing heavy rain, strong winds and coastal flooding to parts of the Mid-Atlantic.
Washington DC, however, is expected to largely miss the storm’s worst impacts.
The storm will track offshore, with the heaviest rain and strongest winds expected farther north along the coast, particularly from Long Island into New England, according to Capital Weather.
What weather can DC expect this weekend?
The DC area could still feel some effects from the storm, particularly near the water, with Capital Weather describing the system as a "near miss" for the DC region.
Northeast winds could push water into the tidal Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay, creating a risk of minor coastal flooding in low-lying areas.
Gusty winds are also
possible, with some areas seeing gusts around 25 to 30 mph.
Rain chances will be highest closer to the Chesapeake Bay and eastern Maryland, while the District and its immediate suburbs should see more limited precipitation.
"A developing Nor’easter offshore will produce breezy conditions across the region through this weekend, especially east of I-95," the National Weather Service says. "Conditions are expected to be mostly dry, but cannot rule out a few showers this weekend as the Nor’easter makes its closest approach."
What is a nor'easter?
A nor'easter is a coastal storm named for the strong northeasterly winds it produces along the East Coast. These systems can bring heavy rain or snow, damaging winds, coastal flooding, rough surf and severe beach erosion.
Although nor'easters are often associated with winter snowstorms, they can develop during fall and other times of year. Forecasters say this system could become the first nor'easter of fall if it develops as projected.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will this weekend's nor'easter impact the Washington DC region?
