# A nor'easter with tropical tricks

> A powerful storm developing off the East Coast this week will bring hurricane-force winds and heavy rain, with some unusual tropical characteristics.
- Title: A nor'easter with tropical tricks · WIRED | Shortify
- Summary: A powerful storm developing off the East Coast this week will bring hurricane-force winds and heavy rain, with some unusual tropical characteristics. A…
- Keywords: nor'easter, east coast, tropical characteristics, hurricane season, el niño, coastal storms, tropical, tricks, WIRED
- Source: WIRED — https://wired.com/story/this-weeks-noreaster-forecast
- Author: Dennis Mersereau
- Published: 2026-09-24T10:15:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: nor'easter, east coast, tropical characteristics, hurricane season, el niño, coastal storms
## A nor'easter is coming
A powerful nor'easter is developing this week and will bring wicked winds, rough surf, and heavy rains to coastal communities from North Carolina to Nova Scotia.
## Unusual timing for fall
Nor'easters are most common between October and April, but this potent storm is developing unusually early in the season, more typical of mid-winter than mid-fall.
## Strongest winds hit New England
Forecasters expect strong, persistent winds from North Carolina to Nova Scotia. The strongest gusts will buffet New England through Friday and Saturday, when winds may reach sixty to seventy miles per hour.
## Coastal damage and disruption
Communities throughout the region can expect coastal flooding, beach erosion, life-threatening rip currents, dangerously rough surf, isolated power outages, and flight delays at New York's and Boston's airports.
## Tropical characteristics emerging
Some computer models suggest this nor'easter may acquire tropical characteristics as it intensifies off the Northeast coastline, developing a shallow warm core like tropical storms and hurricanes.
## El Niño may bring more storms
The Atlantic basin is historically quiet this year, running at less than ten percent of normal tropical activity. As El Niño gains strength, strong events tend to influence an active storm track across the southern US during cooler months, leading to more coastal storms along the Eastern Seaboard.
## Key takeaway

A nor'easter intensifying off the Northeast coast this weekend will bring winds of sixty to seventy miles per hour, coastal flooding, and power outages from North Carolina to Nova Scotia.