A satellite view of the eastern U.S. showed a powerful winter nor’easter moving toward New England on Jan. 4, 2018. (via NASA)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — For the third weekend in a row, snow is coming to the Carolinas. While an inch or two of the white stuff shouldn’t lead to too many impacts outside of slick roads through Saturday morning, the Northeast is preparing for multiple feet of snow. The culprit: a nasty nor’easter. Just the sheer utterance of the name is enough to make a New Englander shudder. But what exactly *is* a nor’easter?
I’m glad you asked.
What’s in a Name?
As you may have guessed, the name “nor’easter” comes from the prevailing winds that come over the land. Strong northeasterly winds are typically associated with nor’easters that ride up the east coast of the United States.
Is There Anything Special About Nor’easters?
Not really. These storms can form any time of year, but they tend to be stronger when they develop from late fall into early spring. The reason why is because this time of year is when the greatest temperature differences occur between the land and sea. As low pressure develops off the East Coast, it rapidly strengthens as it feeds on the strong temperature and pressure gradients between the drier, colder continental air and the warmer, wetter oceanic air.
Are Nor’easters a Problem for the Carolinas?
Once again, not really. That said, these systems often develop near the Palmetto and Tar Heel states’ coastline, and can bring rain and snow to the central and eastern parts of the two states. The strongest impacts are almost solely limited to our friends in the Northeast, though.
