Atlantic storms to bring East Coast beach erosion, coastal flooding; tropical development risk
Offshore storms could prolong beach erosion, coastal flooding and dangerous rip currents into next week, even with sunshine inland. Two systems have a chance to become named storms.
Satellite imagery shows a nor’easter off the shore of New England. Rough surf, beach erosion and coastal flooding are expected through Thursday, with rain across eastern New England Wednesday afternoon and night.
A series of offshore storms will bring dangerous surf, beach erosion and coastal flooding to parts of the Atlantic Coast through this weekend, even as much of the eastern United States enjoys sunshine.
As one storm moves away from the mid-Atlantic coast, another will develop farther south near the Bahamas. A third storm could form off the southeastern U.S. coast next week.
A nor’easter swirls off the Virginia coast, left of center, while another area of clouds gathers near the Bahamas, lower left of center, in this image captured Wednesday morning, Oct. 21, 2026. (AccuWeather Enhanced RealVue™ Satellite)
The existing nor’easter and a possible third storm next week could develop into subtropical or tropical storms. The next available Atlantic storm names are Josephine and Kyle.
Offshore nor’easter could become tropical before moving into colder North Atlantic
The nor’easter has been spinning a few hundred miles off the mid-Atlantic coast since the weekend. It has only a brief window to develop the structure needed to become a named subtropical or tropical storm before moving over colder water.
“The storm’s clouds currently resemble a comma," AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said. "A more circular cloud pattern could signal that the storm is acquiring tropical or subtropical characteristics.”
Strengthening steering winds will push the storm over progressively colder waters in the North Atlantic. It could pass close enough to the large Canadian island of Newfoundland to bring wind-driven rain and snow on Saturday.
The offshore nor’easter will bring rough surf, beach erosion and minor to moderate coastal flooding at high tide from North Carolina to southeastern New York into Thursday. These hazards will persist along the eastern Massachusetts coast into Friday.
Because this storm is farther offshore than the powerful late-September nor’easter, coastal impacts will be less severe overall. However, flooding and erosion are still causing damage to some communities.
Overwash and sand breaches protective dunes along Highway 12 in North Carolina after a nor'easter brought waves and coastal impacts. (Image credit: NC DOT)
More Atlantic storms could prolong hazards along Southeast U.S. Coast
As the nor’easter moves away and seas begin to ease from North Carolina to New England, another storm will develop near the Bahamas. Its coastal impacts will ramp up from Thursday to Friday and continue through the weekend into early next week.
The new storm will also remain well offshore. However, the pressure difference between the storm and high pressure over the eastern U.S. will strengthen northeasterly winds along the coast.
Clouds associated with the developing system were already gathering near the Bahamas on Wednesday.
Building seas will bring large breaking waves and dangerous rip currents to beaches from South Carolina to South Florida beginning on Friday.
Conditions appear generally unfavorable for tropical development of the storm near the Bahamas because it will form along a front and may encounter strong wind shear, AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva said. Wind shear, which is a sudden change in wind speed or direction in the atmosphere, can disrupt tropical development. However, the chance is non-zero with a short window of potential development.
Dangerous surf will persist along the southeastern U.S. coast from this weekend to early next week, whether or not the storm becomes tropical.
Repeated high tides and persistent onshore winds will prolong beach erosion, while coastal flooding will increase through the weekend into early next week.
Higher tides associated with the full moon will combine with storm-driven water levels to increase coastal flooding this weekend into early next week, including in Miami and Charleston, South Carolina. Some of the highest astronomical tides of the year, known as king tides, are possible.
Steering winds should carry the storm into the central Atlantic next week.
Another storm could become tropical, extend coastal hazards next week
Another storm could form closer to the southeastern U.S. coast next week, prolonging dangerous surf through the middle and latter part of the week.
Conditions could worsen if the storm strengthens near the coast.
"A storm that forms behind the Bahamas-area system could encounter conditions more favorable for tropical development next week," DaSilva said. This storm would have more time to evolve.
Whether or not it becomes tropical, the storm could prolong dangerous surf, beach erosion and coastal flooding along the southeastern U.S. coast through the middle and latter part of next week, especially if it strengthens and stalls nearby.
Beachgoers and small-boat operators along the southeastern U.S. coast should monitor local forecasts and heed advisories and warnings through next week. Stay out of the water when dangerous surf or rip currents are present, as most beaches do not have lifeguards on duty this time of the year.
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