What is a nor'easter and what meteorological features characterize it?

Study for the METRO (Meteorology) – VT-10 Test. Enhance your knowledge with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam today!

A nor’easter is a mid-latitude cyclone that tracks along or near the northeastern United States coast. Its defining features include a low-pressure center with a counterclockwise, or cyclonic, flow that drives strong northeast winds along the coast. The storm brings heavy precipitation that often falls as rain near the coast and snow inland, depending on the air temperatures, and may include mixed precipitation. Coastal flooding and high surf are common due to the persistent onshore northeast winds and the storm’s pressure gradient as it tracks up the coast. The system usually gains its energy from the clash between cold Arctic air to the north and warm, moist air from the Atlantic, and it can intensify rapidly as it moves northeast. This pattern is different from tropical cyclones, which are warm-core systems forming over warm waters and have a different structure and wind field.