"A potential future weather event comparable to 'Storm of the Century' may exhibits greater intensity, according to recent research findings."
A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has confirmed that climate change is intensifying nor’easters, powerful coastal storms affecting the East Coast of the United States. The research found that the strongest nor’easters are now significantly windier and wetter compared to those in the mid-20th century.
The study, led by Judah Cohen, a climatologist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, found a 17% increase in the destructive potential of nor'easters due to global warming. The increased intensity is attributed to basic physics; warmer oceans and air lead to more evaporation and more moisture in the atmosphere.
The findings show how the climate crisis can lead to counter-intuitive effects, including episodic increases in severe winter weather. The rates of rain and snow dumped by nor'easters have increased by about 10%, and the maximum windspeed of the most intense nor'easters has increased by around 6% since 1940.
While evidence for nor'easters shifting northward is less definitive, modeling and observations show that storms over the Atlantic impacting Europe are moving poleward, which may imply similar trends for East Coast storms. Although the number of nor'easters may not have increased, the most intense storms are becoming more powerful and potentially more frequent at new thresholds of intensity.
The potential consequences for East Coast cities are significant. Heavier precipitation raises the risk of flash floods and river flooding, especially in urban areas where drainage systems may be overwhelmed. Coastal cities like Boston, New York, and Philadelphia face heightened risks of property damage, power outages, and disruption of transportation networks due to strong winds and storm surges. Prolonged power outages and flooding can lead to health emergencies, including exposure to extreme temperatures and waterborne illnesses.
The financial toll of storm damage could rise significantly, particularly as nor'easters become more destructive and frequent. The "Ash Wednesday" storm in 1962 caused huge devastation along the East Coast, inflicting a total economic loss equivalent to tens of billions of dollars in today's money. The "Storm of the Century" in March 1993 was one of the deadliest and costliest nor'easters ever recorded, with more than 200 deaths and over 60 inches of snow in some places.
Individual nor'easter events may pack a bigger punch, even as the number of nor'easters decreases in a warmer world. Michael Mann, a climate scientist at the University of Pennsylvania, was trapped in a Philadelphia hotel room during Snowmageddon, which sparked his curiosity about how these storms might be affected by global warming. Even as the snow season shortens in many parts of the US, there will still be periods of heavy snowfall and intense cold.
Coastal communities in the Northeast where nor'easters strike should prioritize proactive preparation over post-storm recovery, according to Jennifer Francis, a senior scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center. The scientists used historical data and a cyclone tracking algorithm to analyze nor'easters between 1940 and 2025, creating a digital atlas of these storms. The results suggest the flooding risk in many East Coast cities may be underestimated.
The study found that nor'easters, destructive and often deadly storms on the US East Coast, are being supercharged by the effects of climate pollution. The findings underscore the need for better preparedness for nor'easters and highlight the escalating risks for densely populated East Coast cities in the form of more severe flooding, infrastructure damage, public health threats, and economic losses.
- The study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, led by Judah Cohen, indicates that the increased destructive potential of nor'easters, due to global warming, contributes to climate change's impact on health and wellness, as more powerful nor'easters can lead to health emergencies, such as exposure to extreme temperatures and waterborne illnesses.
- The findings of the study in environmental science show that scientist Michael Mann's curiosity about the effects of global warming on nor'easters was sparked during a heavy snowstorm, referred to as Snowmageddon, which reinforces the importance of medical-condition considerations as stronger nor'easters can increase the risk of health emergencies.
- The digital atlas of nor'easters created by the scientists at the Woodwell Climate Research Center, using historical data and a cyclone tracking algorithm, highlights the importance of climate science and the environmental impact of climate pollution, as the results suggest the flooding risk in many East Coast cities may be underestimated, raising concerns about the well-being of residents and potential economic losses.
