Millions brace for nor'easter: Latest forecast

The nor'easter could spark flight disruptions along the Northeast coast.

September 24, 2026, 8:53 AM

Millions are on alert for a powerful nor'easter set to bring rain and wind to the Northeast this weekend.

Intermittent rounds of rain will start Friday afternoon from North Carolina to Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Saturday through Monday, windy rain showers will be off and on from New Jersey to Maine. 

By Monday, rain totals could reach 2-to-4 inches from New Jersey to Maine. Higher totals of 4-to-6 inches are forecast for Boston and Long Island, New York.

Wind gusts up to 40 to 50 mph have been recorded along the Mid-Atlantic coast, and those powerful winds will move north by the end of the week and through the weekend. 

A high wind watch is in place Friday and Saturday along the Jersey Shore and from Rhode Island through coastal Massachusetts, where gusts could reach 60 mph.

Saturday morning may bring the strongest winds for New York City, with gusts around 45 mph possible. 

The storm is also forecast to bring coastal flooding, large waves and beach erosion. 

Waves up to 12 feet are possible from North Carolina's Outer Banks to the New Jersey shore through Saturday. 

From Friday to Sunday, huge waves up to 17 feet are possible from Massachusetts to Maine. 

The nor'easter could also cause power outages and could spark flight disruptions along the Northeast coast.

Nor'easters get their name because winds over the coastal area are typically from the northeast. These storms may occur at any time of year but are most frequent and most violent between September and April.

Nor'easters nearly always bring precipitation in the form of heavy rain or snow, as well as gale-force winds, rough seas, and coastal flooding.