There may be an uninvited guest this Thanksgiving in the guise of a nasty nor’easter winter storm that could snarl travel along the Eastern Seaboard, weather forecasters warn.
The storm, coming at the busiest travel period of the year, has the potential to strike New York City with possible high winds, heavy rains and even flooding in regions already ravaged by Superstorm Sandy and the subsequent nor’easter snowstorm.
Current computer models predict the storm could hover along the coast, or just offshore, for days before landfall, kicking up big waves and tidal flooding sometime in the middle of next week. It could raise coastal water levels from 1 to 3 feet, depending on wind and tidal conditions.
“If it travels near the coast very slowly, then you have serious concerns with above-normal tides,” said Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather’s expert senior meteorologist. “It wouldn’t be another Sandy by any means, but [anything] above normal tides for these susceptible areas is a concern.”
The storm, however, could travel out to sea, doing little more than churning the waters.
“We’re not advocating any change of travel plans at this point, but we are keeping an eye on this one,” Sosnowski said.
A weather system currently bring rain over the southeast will move out to the sea this weekend and then gain strength.
If it does move north, Washington D.C., Philadelphia and Boston may also be in its path.