Nor’easter gaining strength along East Coast

Sept. 25 (UPI) — A nor-easter is picking up steam on the East Coast on Friday, setting the stage for a stormy weekend with strong winds, rain and potential flooding.

Boston and New York City can expect rain, wind and coastal flooding beginning Friday into early Saturday. The central East Coast is already feeling those strong winds with North Carolina and Virginia facing the threat of coastal floods and coastal erosion.

The coast is also under a high tide with a full moon coinciding with the strengthening storm on Saturday.

The storm system has the potential to move inland but is expected to largely stay offshore throughout the weekend.

“It’s supposed to intensify and gradually drift to the north over the next day or so, working its way toward east of New Jersey, south of Long Island by the time we get into the weekend,” said Frank Pereira, National Weather Service meteorologist.

Forecasts have shifted throughout the week but what has been consistent is the region between New York and Boston facing the brunt of the incoming storm.

New York City is facing stretches of heavy rain backed by wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph late on Friday into the weekend. The potential for flooding may reach urban areas of New York City.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has issued a travel warning beginning on Friday afternoon.

“The forecast path of this storm has moved closer to our city, and it is bringing more rain and stronger winds with it,” Mamdani said in his announcement.

New York has a 75% chance of rain on Saturday and a 50% on Sunday. Boston and Portland, Maine, have a chance of rain through Monday. Portland has a 50% chance of rain on Saturday through Monday while Boston’s rain prospects fall from 60% Saturday to 25% on Monday.

The region may receive up to a month’s worth of rain during this storm. Meteorologist say there is a risk of “excessive rain” that could cause flash flooding, particularly along the coasts of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and eastern Long Island.