A powerful coastal storm is set to batter the southeastern United States from Friday night, affecting approximately 120 million people along the East Coast into early next week. Forecasters warn of heavy rainfall, winds gusting up to 60 miles per hour, dangerous rip currents, and widespread coastal flooding.
AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Bernie Rayno described the system as a 'damaging storm' for communities along the Atlantic coast. The low-pressure system is expected to form off Florida's eastern coast and track northward over the weekend, following a relatively quiet Atlantic hurricane season that saw only one landfall in the US last July.
Florida has already experienced flooding amid high tides, with at least one vehicle trapped. The National Weather Service in Miami reported heavy rain across the southwest, while the Tampa office warned of gusts up to 30 mph on Friday. Coastal flood warnings are in effect for all South Carolina beaches, with major flooding projected to disrupt travel in Charleston and Colleton Counties. The Springmaid Pier could see a historic crest of 8.5 feet, placing it among the top ten highest on record.
Further north, North Carolina's Wilmington area expects two to four inches of rain, with parts of the Outer Banks facing up to four feet of flooding and five inches of rain through Sunday. Wind gusts there may reach 45 mph. Virginia's coast could see gusts up to 55 mph, raising the risk of isolated power outages. The Weather Prediction Centre noted a slight risk of excessive rainfall over parts of the Mid-Atlantic coast from Saturday into Sunday morning, with flash flooding likely in urban areas and low-lying spots.
In Delaware, a coastal flood watch runs from Sunday through Monday, with extremely rough waters in Delaware Bay. The National Weather Service urged property owners to prepare for potential beach erosion and dune breaching. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy warned residents of a coastal storm beginning Sunday with potential severe flooding, urging vigilance. Three to five inches of rain are possible in coastal New Jersey and New York, and a high wind watch has been issued for New York City from Sunday into Monday morning. The storm is forecast to continue up the coast before turning on Monday and Tuesday, according to AccuWeather.
