Nor’easter, a storm that has its origins from very strong northeasterly winds, often has devastating consequences on marine and inland environments. Nor’easters develop as smaller storms around the midwest and southern gulf states of the United States, which gradually move east to the eastern seaboard. The Atlantic Ocean’s waters are warm and as they meet with the winds coming of the continent, the storm grows in size and power. Winds become very strong, and it rains or snows heavily for prolonged periods of time. Eventually the system can match the power of lesser cyclonic systems and its trajectory aims north.
Nor’easters are known to preoduce heavy rains in the warmer months and with the air being cold enough, snow is produced during the colder months. These conditions drift and are very dangerous, as storm surges, and flooding becomes wide spread. They are very difficult to predict as conditions often change quickly, according to NASA. As the high winds and rain intensifies it becomes almost impossible to escape the storm system. However, due to the help of satellites, it is easier to forsee such storms.
The contrasting temperatures on radar, hooks and eyes often signals any severe weather effects that may take place; whether they are cyclones, Nor’easters, etc. As weather related instrumentation advances, these horrid storms will become easier to predict at much earlier times, eventually providing early warning, and consequently saving many lives of coastal occupants, fishermen and other water related activities and businesses.
Meteorologists at present try to predict the creation of Nor’easters by reviewing data coming in from the Gulf stream, which is part of the global conveyor belt. They check for low pressure systems moving Northeast or the occurences of low pressure systems moving southward from the Arctic regions. At times catastrophic damage is avoided, as the systems both interesect far out at sea. However, this can have a profound effect on shipping and strong winds, together with rain still makes it to shore. Some of the effects that have been noted due to Nor’easters is the generation of tornadoes and large water spouts out in the ocean.
A 1993 storm which was featured in the film, THE PERFECT STORM, dumped large amounts of rain, hail, snow, destructive winds and flash flooding around the entire Eastern coast. One advantage of these storms is that the tornadoes they produce have short lives so far inland damage is usualy kept low. However, the Nor’easters can maintain strength and energy for many days, causing havoc for anyone caught in its path. The power of the storm usually disrupts economies around the cities which is has most effects on and forces people to hide for days on end. An example of unusual Nor’easter formation, is called an Alberta Clipper, which can form far inland, when the atmospheric instability is high enough.
This system is generated around the Northern Rocky mountains, the storm system then continues to move slightly south and then east towards the coastline. As the system moves it encounters warmer and humid air in the south of the continent, ths provides energy for the storm to grow into a powerful Nor’easter.
