Nor'easter facts for kids

For other uses, see Nor'easter (disambiguation).

Nor'easter off the New England coast of the United States responsible for the January 2018 North American blizzard

A nor'easter (also spelled northeaster) is a huge storm that forms over the western North Atlantic Ocean. The name comes from the strong winds that blow from the northeast during these storms. Nor'easters usually start as a low-pressure area near the coast, between North Carolina and Massachusetts.

These storms often bring heavy rain or snow. They can also cause serious coastal flooding, coastal erosion, very strong winds (like a hurricane), or blizzard conditions. Nor'easters are most common and powerful between November and March. This is because cold air from Canada mixes with warm ocean water off the East Coast. The Atlantic coast of the United States and Atlantic Canada usually get hit by nor'easters a few times each winter.

What's in a Name? The Nor'easter Story
How Nor'easters Form and What They're Like
Famous Nor'easters Through History
See also

What's in a Name? The Nor'easter Story

Compass card (1607), showing "Noreast"

The word nor'easter came to America from British English. People started using the short form nor for north a long time ago, in the late 1500s. You can even see the spelling "Noreast" on old compass cards from 1607. Sailors used to say "Nor'east" when talking about directions on a compass.

So, the name "nor'easter" naturally came from how people used to say and spell directions like "north-east." Even though some people thought it was a "fake" word, it has been used for a very long time. Writers and newspapers have used the term for centuries to describe these powerful storms.

How Nor'easters Form and What They're Like

Surface temperature of the sea off the east coast of North America. The yellow area shows the Gulf Stream.

How These Big Storms Begin

Nor'easters form when very cold, dry air from Canada meets the warm Gulf Stream ocean current. The Gulf Stream is usually warm, even in winter, around 70°F (21°C). When this cold air and warm water meet, it often creates low-pressure areas that grow stronger.

High up in the sky, strong winds from the jet stream help the storm grow. These winds pull rising air away from the Atlantic faster than it can be replaced below. This helps create a powerful storm that moves northeast along the East Coast. It usually goes from North Carolina to Long Island, then heads east towards the waters off Cape Cod.

The winds around the low-pressure system blow moist air over the land. This warm, moist air then crashes into the cold air coming from Canada. The bigger the difference in temperature between these air masses, the stronger and more severe the storm becomes. Nor'easters often get strongest when they are off the Canadian coast. They can even become as strong as a weak hurricane before moving into the North Atlantic.

Scientists use something called the Miller classification to understand how nor'easters move and how strong they will be. This system helps them predict if a storm will bring heavy snow to places like New England or affect areas further south.

What Makes a Nor'easter Special?

Nor'easters often start from smaller storms that join together. They also need a mix of cold air from the polar jet stream and warmer air from the tropical jet stream.

During a nor'easter, temperatures usually drop a lot because of the cold air blowing from the northeast. The storm can bring all kinds of precipitation, from heavy rain to light mist. Very strong wind gusts, sometimes as powerful as hurricane winds, are also common.

Sometimes, a very strong nor'easter can even look like a hurricane. It might have a clear area near its center, which can seem like a hurricane's eye. This happened in the 1978 nor'easter and the January 2018 North American blizzard.

Nor'easters vs. Tropical Cyclones

People sometimes confuse nor'easters with tropical cyclones (like hurricanes). But they are different! Nor'easters are "cold-core" storms. This means they get their energy from the big temperature differences between cold Canadian air and warm ocean water. Tropical cyclones, on the other hand, are "warm-core" storms. They need only warm temperatures to grow.

Very rarely, a small tropical cyclone can form inside a strong nor'easter if the ocean water is warm enough. Also, sometimes a nor'easter can even turn into a tropical storm, like Tropical Storm Wanda in 2021.

Nor'easters vs. Other Storms

A nor'easter is a very strong extratropical cyclone that often grows quickly. While similar storms happen around the world, nor'easters are special because of their strong northeast winds and lots of moisture. This moisture can cause heavy rain or snow.

Where Nor'easters Happen

The eastern United States, from North Carolina to Maine, and Eastern Canada are the main places that experience nor'easters. They most often hit Atlantic Canada and New England. Sometimes, the effects of a nor'easter, like high waves and strong winds, can reach as far south as coastal South Carolina. These storms often cause a lot of beach erosion and flooding in low-lying areas.

Scientists have also found that nor'easters can cause red tides on the Atlantic coast.

Famous Nor'easters Through History

Here are some notable nor'easters and what they did:

Event	Date	Description
Great Blizzard of 1888	March 11–14, 1888	One of the worst blizzards in U.S. history. It dropped 40 to 50 inches (100 to 130 cm) of snow. About 400 people died, mostly in New York.
Great Appalachian Storm of November 1950	November 24–30, 1950	A very severe storm with over 30 inches (76 cm) of snow in many eastern U.S. cities. It had record cold temperatures and hurricane-force winds. 353 people died.
Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962	March 5–9, 1962	Caused severe tidal flooding and blizzard conditions from the Mid-Atlantic to New England. 40 people died.
Eastern Canadian Blizzard of March 1971	March 3–5, 1971	Dropped over 32 inches (81 cm) of snow in eastern Canada. At least 30 people died.
Groundhog Day gale of 1976	February 1–5, 1976	Brought blizzard conditions to New England and eastern Canada. It dropped up to 56 inches (140 cm) of snow.
Northeastern United States blizzard of 1978	February 5–7, 1978	A huge storm that dropped over 27 inches (69 cm) of snow in New England. About 100 people died, many trapped in their cars.
1991 Perfect Storm (the "Perfect Storm")	October 28 – November 2, 1991	A very unusual storm where tropical and extratropical systems mixed. It caused severe coastal damage, especially in Massachusetts. 13 people died.
December 1992 nor'easter	December 10–12, 1992	A powerful storm that caused severe coastal flooding across the northeastern United States.
1993 Storm of the Century	March 12–15, 1993	A "superstorm" that started in the Gulf of Mexico. It brought high storm surges to Florida and affected the entire eastern U.S., parts of Canada, and Cuba. It caused $6.65 billion in damage and killed 310 people.
Christmas 1994 nor'easter	December 22–26, 1994	An intense storm that affected the U.S. East Coast and showed some features of a tropical cyclone.
North American blizzard of 1996	January 6–10, 1996	A severe snowstorm that brought up to 4 feet (120 cm) of snow to parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern U.S.
North American blizzard of 2003	February 14–22, 2003	Dropped over 2 feet (61 cm) of snow in cities like Boston and New York City. It affected large areas and killed 27 people.
White Juan of 2004	February 17–23, 2004	A blizzard that hit Atlantic Canada, causing major travel problems in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It dropped over 37 inches (94 cm) of snow.
North American blizzard of 2005	January 20–23, 2005	Brought blizzard conditions to southern New England. It dropped over 40 inches (100 cm) of snow in parts of Massachusetts.
North American blizzard of 2006	February 11–13, 2006	A powerful storm that developed a hurricane-like eye near New Jersey. It brought over 30 inches (76 cm) of snow in some areas and killed 3 people.
April 2007 nor'easter	April 13–17, 2007	An unusually late storm that brought heavy snow to northern New England and Canada, and heavy rains elsewhere. It caused 18 deaths.
November 2009 nor'easter	November 11–17, 2009	Formed from the remains of Hurricane Ida. It caused moderate storm surge, strong winds, and very heavy rain in the Mid-Atlantic. It caused $300 million in damage and killed six people.
December 2009 North American blizzard	December 16–20, 2009	A major blizzard that affected big cities like New York City, Philadelphia, and Boston. Some areas got up to 2 feet (61 cm) of snow.
March 2010 nor'easter	March 12–16, 2010	A slow-moving nor'easter that hit the Northeastern United States hard. Winds up to 70 mph (110 km/h) knocked down trees and power lines, leaving over 1 million homes without power. It caused widespread flooding and coastal erosion.
December 2010 North American blizzard	December 5, 2010 – January 15, 2011	A severe and long-lasting blizzard that dropped up to 36 inches (91 cm) of snow across much of the eastern United States.
January 8–13, 2011 North American blizzard and January 25–27, 2011 North American blizzard	January 8–13 and January 25–27, 2011	Two nor'easters hit the East Coast in January 2011, just two weeks apart. They severely affected New England and the Mid-Atlantic. One storm set a record with 40 inches (100 cm) of snow in Savoy, Massachusetts. Two people died.
2011 Halloween nor'easter	October 28 – November 1, 2011	A rare, historic nor'easter that brought record snowfall for October to many areas, especially New England. It dropped up to 32 inches (81 cm) of snow in Peru, Massachusetts. 39 people died.
November 2012 nor'easter	November 7–10, 2012	A strong nor'easter that hit areas already affected by Hurricane Sandy a week earlier. It made problems worse by knocking down trees weakened by Sandy. It also caused more power outages.
Late December 2012 North American storm complex	December 17–31, 2012	A major nor'easter known for causing tornadoes in the Gulf Coast states on Christmas Day. It brought heavy snow to northern New England and New York, and blizzard conditions to the Ohio Valley.
Early February 2013 North American blizzard	February 7–18, 2013	An extremely powerful and historic nor'easter that dumped heavy snow and brought hurricane-force winds to New England. Many areas got over 2 feet (61 cm) of snow. Over 700,000 people lost power. An eye-like feature was seen in the storm's center. 18 people died.
March 2013 nor'easter	March 1–21, 2013	A large nor'easter that stalled along the eastern coast. It brought heavy snow and strong winds to the Northeast for 2 to 3 days. Many areas got over 1 foot (30 cm) of snow, with 29 inches (74 cm) in Milton, Massachusetts.
January 2015 North American blizzard	January 23–31, 2015	This blizzard brought over 20 inches (51 cm) of snow to much of the area. Several towns in Massachusetts got over 30 inches (76 cm). Worcester had its largest snowfall on record with 34.5 inches (88 cm). Boston recorded 24.6 inches (62 cm). Hurricane-force winds up to 80 mph (130 km/h) were reported on the coast. It also caused severe coastal flooding.
October 2015 North American storm complex	September 29 – October 2, 2015	A low-pressure system in the Atlantic that got moisture from Hurricane Joaquin. It dumped a lot of rain, mostly in South Carolina.
January 2016 United States blizzard (Winter Storm Jonas)	January 19–29, 2016	This storm dumped 2 to 3 feet (61 to 91 cm) of snow on the East Coast. States of emergency were declared in 12 states. It caused significant storm surge in New Jersey and Delaware. Winds over 50 mph (80 km/h) were common, with a gust of 85 mph (137 km/h) reported. 55 people died.
February 9–11, 2017 North American blizzard (Winter Storm Niko)	February 6–11, 2017	This storm grew quickly into a powerful nor'easter, dumping 1 to 2 feet (30 to 61 cm) of snow across the Northeast megalopolis. It also had thunder and lightning in Southern New England.
February 12–14, 2017 North American blizzard	February 12–15, 2017
March 2017 North American blizzard (Winter Storm Stella)	March 12–15, 2017
October 2017 North American storm complex	October 28–31, 2017	An extremely powerful nor'easter that caused major problems in the Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada. It had strong winds, with gusts up to 93 mph (150 km/h). Over 1.4 million power outages occurred, especially in Maine. Heavy rain in Quebec and Ontario caused transportation issues.
January 2018 North American blizzard	January 2–6, 2018	A powerful blizzard that caused major problems along the East Coast. It brought snow and ice to places that rarely get it, like Florida and Georgia. It dropped over 2 feet (61 cm) of snow in the Mid-Atlantic, New England, and Atlantic Canada. It was called a "historic bomb cyclone."
March 1-3, 2018 nor'easter (Winter Storm Riley)	March 1–5, 2018	A very powerful nor'easter that caused major impacts. It dropped over 2 feet (61 cm) of snow in some areas and challenged storm surge records. It also caused widespread damaging winds. Over 2.2 million customers lost power.
March 6-8, 2018 nor'easter (Winter Storm Quinn)	March 2–9, 2018	This powerful nor'easter came just days after another one. It brought heavy snow, with rates up to 3 inches (7.6 cm) an hour. An eye-like feature was seen. Over 1 million power outages occurred.
March 12–14, 2018 nor'easter (Winter Storm Skylar)	March 11–14, 2018	This was the third major storm to hit the area in 11 days. It dropped over 2 feet (61 cm) of snow and brought hurricane-force winds to parts of Eastern New England. Many schools closed.
March 20–22, 2018 nor'easter (Winter Storm Toby)	March 20–22, 2018	This was the fourth major nor'easter to affect the Northeast in less than three weeks. It caused severe weather in the Southern U.S. before bringing freezing rain and snow to the Mid-Atlantic. Over 100,000 customers lost power, mostly in New Jersey.
Early December 2020 nor'easter	December 4–6, 2020	It brought up to 18 inches (46 cm) of snow in northern New England.
Mid-December 2020 nor'easter	December 14–19, 2020	This nor'easter brought a lot of snow to cities like New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. It dropped over a foot of snow in Boston and Portland. At least 7 people died.
January 31 – February 3, 2021 nor'easter	January 31 – February 3, 2021	This powerful nor'easter hit the Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada. Large cities like New York City saw as much as 18 to 24 inches (46 to 61 cm) of snow.
April 2021 nor'easter (2021 Spring nor'easter)	April 15–17, 2021
Late October 2021 Nor'easter	October 25–28, 2021	A powerful early-season nor'easter that hit the Northeastern United States. It later became Tropical Storm Wanda. Over 607,000 customers lost power, mostly in Massachusetts. It dropped up to 5 inches (13 cm) of rain in Hunter, New York.
April 2022 Nor'easter	April 18–20, 2022	This nor'easter brought heavy rain, wind, heavy snow, and coastal flooding to the Mid-Atlantic states. Inland areas like Pennsylvania and Upstate New York got 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) of snow. Over 300,000 customers lost power.
March 2023 nor'easter	March 13-15, 2023	This nor'easter brought heavy snow to Northern New England and Upstate New York, with up to 40 inches (100 cm) in some isolated spots. The coast received very little snow.