Why the nor'easter's storm surge was so high, and what it says about the El Niño winter ahead

In late September 2026, a powerful nor'easter struck the U.S. Atlantic Coast, causing storm surges that inundated coastal neighborhoods from North Carolina to New York. The surge pushed water onto streets and homes, some areas experiencing flood levels higher than those seen during Superstorm Sandy in 2012. This surge was fueled by several factors, with the storm surge being a key driver.

The storm surge is created when strong winds push water onto land, and during this particular nor'easter, gale-force winds drove water hundreds of miles towards the coast. As the storm intensified, the pressure dropped, increasing the wind strength and thereby the surge's height. Certain areas, such as Raritan Bay in New Jersey and Delaware Bay, experienced particularly high surges due to shallow bays and inlets, where water becomes concentrated and more likely to inundate land.

Additionally, the nor'easter's slow movement along the East Coast led to prolonged flooding. The height of the water above the ground, or inundation, depends on both the storm surge and the tide. When peak storm surge coincides with high tide, or when high tides are higher than normal (as seen during a full moon), flooding is amplified.

The September 2026 storm coincided with such high tides, exacerbating flooding risks. Sea-level rise also played a significant role, caused by global warming. Melting glaciers and ocean expansion contribute to rising sea levels, with parts of the U.S. East Coast experiencing faster rates due to post-glacial rebound, where land previously covered by ice sheets has slowly rebounded as the ice melts.