Nor’easter | The Atlantic Storms of Powerful Waters
Nor’easters are some of the most impactful storms that hit the U.S., with some causing billions in damages. Learn more here…
Nor’easters are a weather phenomenon that has not yet been discussed on The Twirlblast but are still mighty storms. They can bring feet of precipitation onto coastal and inland areas and tremendous storm surges. In this post, we will discuss the effects of the nor’easter, give some examples, and more.
This post is all about nor’easters.
Windy & Wet Nor’easters
Nor’easter Vs. Hurricane
The first section of this post will be about the difference between nor’easters and hurricanes. One major difference between the two is that nor’easters use cold air to gain strength while the opposite is true with hurricanes. Hurricanes often have stronger winds and smaller diameters, too. They form in very different ways because of the air they feed on, with large variations in formation area, tracks, and structure.
Nor’easter Wind Speeds
Nor’easter wind speeds vary from storm to storm, but they can get pretty intense to the point where damage is caused. Gusts can be hurricane force, which can be dangerous for buildings around trees or powerlines. Even though these winds sound intense, wind isn’t the main threat. The main threat of these storms is precipitation and storm surge. Nor’easters can influence other storms or create them, and those storms can produce high winds or even tornadoes.
Nor’easter Storm Surge
Storm surge from a nor’easter can have a big effect on coastal communities. The waves can damage homes on the water. Even though the storm surge isn’t nearly as severe as the ones from hurricanes, it still is powerful against homes on the shore. One common incident with storm surges that happens more with them than hurricanes is the sinking of boats. Boats go into them more often not knowing about the storm or just thinking it won’t be severe and get sunk.
The Storm of the Century
The Storm of the Century wasn’t exactly a nor’easter, but it falls under the category in some ways. The way it formed was three different systems combining into one big one that dumped record amounts of precipitation along many states in the Eastern part of the U.S. This storm also sank many ships as a result of the high wind and waves. Wind gusts of over 90 mph were recorded and so was up to 2-3 inches per hour of precip.
