“Technically Not A Hurricane”: Rare Nor’easter Threatens Northeast This Weekend

Meteorologists on X are tracking a potential nor’easter that could form off the East Coast late this week. 

A powerful nor’easter could lash the East Coast this week — a rarity for September.

Only around 1 percent of nor’easters have historically occurred during September.

They are most common from November to April. pic.twitter.com/t9LNEgAeqD

— Ben Noll (@BenNollWeather) September 21, 2026

A late-September nor’easter is rare for this time of year, and it comes as El Niño has curbed hurricane development so far this season. 

Is it nor’easter season already?! Things are getting started early this year!

The East Coast will be on watch for a potentially powerful early-season nor’easter later this week — with rain, wind and waves whose severity depends on the exact track. pic.twitter.com/A1K5vF2Xhj

— Ben Noll (@BenNollWeather) September 20, 2026

“While not technically a hurricane, the coastal impacts from a powerful Nor’easter will bring “battering waves” and erosion plus very strong winds perhaps gusting to 70-80 mph,” meteorologist Ryan Maue wrote on X earlier Monday, adding, “Even without a storm name — news media should take this “climate-fueled cyclone” very seriously.” 

While not technically a hurricane, the coastal impacts from a powerful Nor’easter will bring “battering waves” and erosion plus very strong winds perhaps gusting to 70-80 mph.

Even without a storm name — news media should take this “climate fueled cyclone” very seriously. pic.twitter.com/E57I2hWeAd

— Ryan Maue (@RyanWeather) September 21, 2026

PIX11 senior meteorologist Mike Masco said, “Some model guidance has hinted at gusts of 60–70 mph from eastern New Jersey to eastern Long Island. That is NOT a forecast at this point, but I’m not dismissing the potential, particularly across eastern Long Island.” 

NOR’EASTER SEASON TO KICK OFF THIS WEEKEND?

The European model is showing a setup that could produce a long-duration nor’easter potentially with some tropical characteristics.

Here’s what I’m watching at 500 mb, roughly 18,000 feet up: Upper-level energy rotating in from… pic.twitter.com/7Ar2P7oCY5

— Mike Masco (@MikeMasco) September 21, 2026

The good news is that peak hurricane season was on September 10 (11 days ago), without a named storm, because strong wind shear associated with El Niño was tearing apart developing systems in the Atlantic Basin. However, the season runs through November 30.