AccuWeather® Experts Concern Growing for Major Impacts from East Coast Storm as Government Does Not Identify a Tropical Development Risk Zone

Digital Media Kit with Updated Graphics 

>> The Tropical Wind and Rainstorm is expected to have some tropical characteristics associated with it, which is why AccuWeather experts have been calling it a tropical wind and rainstorm since Monday 

>> In recent years, there have been several other storms that the National Hurricane Center (NHC) has not named which produced major impacts and had some tropical characteristics 

>> AccuWeather released a forecast track on this week’s Tropical Wind and Rainstorm before other sources and is predicting this storm will be a one (1) on the AccuWeather RealImpact™ Scale for Hurricanes, even though it may never be named by the government. The AccuWeather RealImpact ™ Scale for Hurricanes is a six-point scale with ratings of less than and 1 to 5. 

>> Outside of the Carolinas, for many parts of the East Coast, this will be the most significant storm so far this hurricane season despite not currently being designated as a tropical development risk by the government 

AccuWeather Global Weather Center, STATE COLLEGE, PA – October 8, 2025 - AccuWeather® - the most trusted source of weather forecasts and warnings with proven Superior Accuracy™ - is the only source calling the developing storm along the East Coast a Tropical Wind and Rainstorm since Monday, October 6. AccuWeather experts are providing the most advanced warning to protect lives and property by categorizing the Tropical Wind and Rainstorm as a one (1) on the RealImpact™ Scale for Hurricanes, which warns of major impacts including storm surge, major coastal flooding, beach erosion, strong winds and heavy rain along the East Coast, despite no tropical risk development zone identified by the National Hurricane Center.

“Other weather sources have called this weekend’s East Coast storm a nor’easter. A nor’easter is a storm that produces strong winds from the northeast direction,” said AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter. “By definition, any tropical storm or hurricane moving north along the East Coast is a nor’easter because the counterclockwise circulation around the storm produces a wind from the northeast as the storm approaches the major cities such as New York City and Boston.” 

The Tropical Wind and Rainstorm is expected to have some tropical characteristics associated with it, which is why AccuWeather experts have been calling the storm a Tropical Wind and Rainstorm all week long.  

“Perplexingly, the government’s National Hurricane Center does not have any risk for tropical or subtropical development identified near the U.S. East Coast through the next seven days,” said Porter. “As such, it seems the National Hurricane Center may not ever assign name to this storm once it develops Friday evening or may wait for the storm to exhibit certain meteorological characteristics, such as a warm core or other objective characteristics they have defined.  By then, it may be way too late for people to take the needed precautions to save lives and protect property.” 

As the storm develops, extra spin in the atmosphere to help intensify the Tropical Wind and Rainstorm will be drawn northward from the tropics, specifically, near Cuba. Additionally, the intensifying storm will spend time over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, where water temperatures exceed 80 degrees currently.  These factors can provide some tropical characteristics to the storm.  Additionally, there have been many storms that quickly intensify if they persist over such warm water as the Gulf Stream for some time.   

“Our concern is that some people may not be taking this storm as serious without an indication that the storm will be named. This is why AccuWeather experts have been stressing for days that this storm, regardless of designation, may produce significant or even destructive coastal flooding, beach erosion, damaging surf, gusty winds and heavy rainfall resulting in flooding,” Porter added.  

AccuWeather experts say in the hardest hit areas, there could be coastline-altering damage, with some beaches no longer existing, major damage to homes near the coast, overwash of roads and destruction of boardwalks. Total damage and economic loss of billions of dollars can occur with this storm.  For all these reasons, on Wednesday, AccuWeather experts rated the Tropical Wind and Rainstorm a one (1) on AccuWeather’s RealImpact™ Scale for Hurricanes.  

In order to better communicate a more comprehensive representation of the potential impact of a storm to lives and livelihoods, the AccuWeather RealImpact™ Scale for Hurricanes covers not only wind speed but also flooding rain, storm surge and economic damage and loss on a scale of less than one (1) to five (5).  

“AccuWeather cannot name a storm – only the National Hurricane Center can do that,” Porter added. “We are urging people and businesses to be prepared for a major storm, with a wide variety of dangerous and destructive impacts. Given the threat to people and property, it is unclear why the National Hurricane Center does not seem like they intend to name the storm or even acknowledge its potential to develop tropical characteristics.”   

In recent years, there have been several other storms that the National Hurricane Center has not named that produced major impacts and had some tropical characteristics, such as the unnamed storm that AccuWeather experts best described as a subtropical storm, which produced devastating coastal flooding along part of the North Carolina coastline in September 2024.  This storm, as forecast by AccuWeather ahead of all other known sources, was estimated by AccuWeather to have produced seven-billion dollars ($7B) in total damage and economic loss.   

Other such recent examples, such as the coastal storm in late October 2021, produced significant damage and over half a million power outages in the eastern United States and only was designated as Tropical Storm Wanda several days later when the storm was over the open Atlantic, far beyond the time that created damage on the U. S. East Coast. 

“Public preparation may not reach the level needed based on the storm’s risks if the National Hurricane Center does not elect to provide it with a name,” Porter stressed. 

AccuWeather expert meteorologists are working around the clock, monitoring this developing storm. Any further updates will be released as soon as they are available. For interview requests with Alex DaSilva, Jon Porter or other expert meteorologists, please contact pr@accuweather.com. 

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