Weather Tidbits: What is a Nor’Easter?

This edition of Weather Tidbits will be discussing what a nor’easter is. When the public hears the term nor’easter, most may think that it is related to a potent coastal snowstorm. However, precipitation type does not dictate a nor’easter! A nor’easter is a non-tropical low pressure storm system, rain or snow, along the east coast, so called because the winds over the coastal area are typically from the northeast. That’s where the name comes from! Most may typically associate nor’easter with winter storms, since they are most common and strongest during the wintertime. However, nor’easter can occur year around, though are the least common and weaker during the summer. The strongest nor’easters will bring heavy precipitation, gale-force winds, rough seas, and occasionally coastal flooding.