Twin storms threaten US as Nor’easter expected to bring flooding to East Coast, while Southwest faces flash floods and heavy rain

A twin threat is bearing down on the United States this weekend, a strengthening nor’easter expected to pummel the Atlantic seaboard with heavy surf, coastal flooding, and gusty winds, while tropical moisture from the remnants of Hurricane Priscilla is being drawn into the Desert Southwest, raising the risk of flash flooding and a variety of nasty weather. Forecasters say both events could produce locally severe impacts and disruption to travel, utilities, and low-lying coastal and urban areas.

Along the Atlantic Coast, a developing nor’easter is expected to cause significant disruptions from the Southeast through the Mid-Atlantic and possibly into the Northeast this weekend and early next week. According to the National Weather Service, the storm could bring coastal flooding, high surf, dangerous rip currents, strong winds, and higher-than-usual tides.

In the Southwest, lingering tropical moisture from former Hurricane Priscilla is expected to fuel several days of thunderstorms, bringing widespread heavy rain and the threat of flash flooding across the region. The National Weather Service warned that flooding will be a particular concern in burn scars, slot canyons, and urban areas prone to poor drainage.
According to USA Today, Western Alaska could also experience coastal flooding and high winds as yet another tropical system winds up in the region.

A powerful coastal storm, known as a nor’easter, is expected to bring heavy rain, strong winds, significant beach erosion, and potentially major coastal flooding along the Eastern Seaboard this weekend and into early next week, meteorologist Matt Lanza wrote in his Substack newsletter The Eyewall.

“The threat of a coastal storm this weekend with significant impacts in the Mid-Atlantic and perhaps as far north as New England continues to increase,” Lanza said Oct. 9 according to the USA Today website. “We now have various watches and advisories posted along the coast from the Carolinas through New Jersey.”Meteorologists report that the developing nor’easter is expected to interact with another storm system moving southeast across the Great Lakes. In the Southeast, the storm could deliver up to 6 inches of rain in isolated areas along Florida’s east coast and as much as 4 inches along North Carolina’s Outer Banks.Forecasting remains uncertain farther north along the Atlantic Coast, meteorologist Roger Martin of the Morehead City, North Carolina, weather office noted in his Oct. 9 morning update. By the weekend, the nor’easter could cause moderate flooding, with the potential for major coastal flooding in some isolated areas. These impacts may be intensified by king tides coinciding with the full moon and seasonal high tides.