Minor to moderate coastal flooding hit parts of the Jersey Shore to southeast Virginia on Wednesday morning, with flooding reported in downtown Norfolk, Smithfield and Suffolk.
Persistent onshore winds — already topping 40 mph from southern New Jersey and Delaware to the Virginia Tidewater — are piling ocean and bay water ashore as the storm crawls north.
Five or more high-tide flood cycles are possible into early weekend from southern New Jersey to North Carolina's northern Outer Banks, with the Virginia Tidewater, Chesapeake Bay and Delaware Bay facing the greatest risk.
Friday into Saturday, the storm shifts its heaviest rain and strongest winds toward coastal New England and eastern Long Island, where gusts over 50 mph could cause tree damage, outages and flash flooding, including around Boston.
The nor'easter is expected to weaken Sunday, but showers, gusty winds and travel disruptions could linger into Monday across parts of New England and upstate New York.
With 20-foot waves and 70 mph gusts possible, could a slight track shift turn this nor'easter into a historic disaster for Boston?
Will the extreme pressure gradient offshore trigger prolonged airport shutdowns and leave thousands of weekend travelers stranded along the East Coast?
As repeated tidal flooding batters the East Coast, are ongoing beach replenishment projects enough to save coastal homes from being washed away?