BLOG: Developing Nor'easter Moves To Our Region
By Steve Strouss
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A developing and slow moving nor'easter will impact the region over the next several days with rain and wind. The storm is now centered off the Carolina coast and will drift northward overnight. Northeast winds will increase in the area as the storm is being blocked by a stubborn area of high pressure over New England. Because of the prolonged duration of onshore winds and rain, a Coastal Flood Advisory has been issued for coastal counties of New Jersey and Delaware on Thursday. Minor tidal flooding is expected to occur with each high tide cycle and there is a chance for moderate coastal flooding if heavy rain coincides with the high tides. Additional impacts at the shore include; rough surf, minor beach erosion, gusty NE winds (up to 45 mph) and heavy rain (up to 2" through Saturday").
Farther inland, including the city of Philadelphia, we expect winds to gust to 30 mph at times on Thursday. There will also be periods of heavy rain and ponding on roads which will cause slow AM & PM commutes. The storm will linger through the weekend but the conditions after Thursday will turn progressively better day by day. By Friday the rain will be light or intermittent but northeast winds will still be persistent around the storm. By Saturday showers or drizzle will occur and the winds will relax. Rainfall totals for the storm will be highest south and east of Philadelphia especially across southern portions of the Delmarva where over 3" of rain may fall. Since the storm is occurring over several days we do not expect imminent threats of flooding however slow rises in streams and rivers will occur. Perhaps the most disturbing part of this storm is that it comes nearly a year after Superstorm Sandy slammed the same coastlines. As rebuilding continues, this nor'easter, to a much, much lesser extent, will test our redeveloped beaches and shores. As high pressure gains control the storm will be pushed back south and eventually out to sea early next week.
