A storm that stays offshore but still reaches the coast
A nor'easter intensifying far out over the Atlantic is set to affect the East Coast for several days, even though its center is expected to remain well away from land, according to NBC News. The system is hundreds of miles offshore, and forecasters expect its heaviest rain to fall mostly over open water instead of the mainland.
Onshore winds are still expected to push ocean water toward the shoreline. Flood advisories stretch from the Jersey Shore south to the Outer Banks, where inundation of 1-2 feet is possible, NBC News reported. Communities between New Jersey and Cape Hatteras should be ready for coastal flooding, beach erosion and blustery conditions.
The report singled out the Outer Banks as an area where gusty winds and flooding are especially possible. Some rain could also brush Cape Cod.
Wind and surf forecasts
Wind is expected to be the storm's biggest factor. According to the forecast cited by NBC News, Nantucket could see winds of 44 mph, Cape Hatteras about 39 mph and Virginia Beach about 32 mph.
Rain and coastal flooding are also expected on Cape Cod and Nantucket in the coming days. By Thursday, rough surf and rip currents are forecast to reach those areas. Rip currents can endanger swimmers and waders even when the weather onshore looks calm, and heavy surf can speed up erosion on exposed beaches.
Could it become Josephine?
The report said the nor'easter could develop into a tropical storm. Forecasters put the chance of that happening at 40% within two days and 40% within seven days. If it does form, it would be named Josephine.
NBC News said that if the system does become a tropical storm, it would strengthen as it keeps moving east and away from the coast. That means the shoreline effects described above are tied mainly to the storm's current offshore position and the winds it is generating.
A separate storm threatens the West
NBC News also reported that a storm in the Pacific Ocean is expected to bring heavy rain, flooding and mountain snow to the western United States. A flash flood risk covers an area from Southern California to the Rockies.
A broader flood threat is in place for California and parts of the Southwest through Thursday. In Southern California, it covers the area from San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara. It also covers the Four Corners states, where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah meet.
In Arizona, six million people are under a flood watch, including residents of Phoenix and Flagstaff, the report said. A watch means conditions are favorable for flooding, so residents are urged to stay alert as the storm develops.
What to watch next
On the East Coast, the main questions are how high the water rises along the shoreline and whether the storm gains tropical characteristics as it moves away. Residents from New Jersey to Cape Cod should keep an eye on local advisories, particularly around high tide, when onshore winds can have the greatest effect.
In the West, the flood threat is expected to last through Thursday. Travelers and residents in the affected states should watch for updates on road conditions, flash flooding and mountain snow.
