A powerful, unusually timed nor'easter is hitting the East Coast this weekend -- and it has already cracked open a key highway on North Carolina's Outer Banks.
On Thursday, Sept. 24, high tide and ocean overwash breached a dune near the Pea Island Visitor Center, undermining about 500 feet of pavement on NC-12. The North Carolina Department of Transportation closed the highway between the Basnight Bridge and Rodanthe, with no estimate yet for when it will reopen. Crews said they would need to wait for the water to clear before completing a full damage assessment.
What's forecast this weekend
Forecasters say wind gusts of 40 to 60 mph could down trees and power lines, with waves reaching 12 feet in Ocean City, New Jersey, and up to 22 feet in New England. Coastal flood warnings and watches stretch from North Carolina to Connecticut. The highest risk of major inundation -- 1 to 3 feet above high tide -- is in the Virginia Beach-to-Norfolk area and from North Carolina to Nantucket, Massachusetts. A full moon Saturday night could intensify the tides. Rhode Island to eastern Massachusetts could see 2 to 3 inches of rain or more.
Why it's unusual
Nor'easters are a normal part of the New England winter, but a storm this strong is rare for September. Boston's mayor pointed to the storm's rarity for the season as the city urged residents to prepare.
Already adjusting
New York City issued a travel advisory in effect from 2 p.m. Friday through Sunday. The Boston Red Sox moved their season finale and the Yankees shifted a Saturday home game to Friday to avoid the storm. Massachusetts residents have been securing boats and property ahead of the weekend.
