How Does a Nor'easter Work?

Virginia Beach after the Ash Wednesday Blizzard of 1962.


Snow is coming down by the dump truck loads. You're at the airport where you've just heard the news that your flight out of New York City has been cancelled. You could try to drive back home, but chances are that the highways are about to be snowed in, too. Snow plows can only keep up with a certain amount of snow, and already it's been snowing for seven hours.


Since this storm is a nor'easter, the snow could easily keep pounding down for another whole day or even two. Nor'easters are like that. They are known for dumping huge amounts of snow. Not only can a nor'easter dump lots of snow fast, it can keep it up for days. That is why these legendary storms are known for shutting down airports and highways.


One more thing that nor'easters are known for is causing power outages. You hope that won't happen with this one. Being stranded at the airport is bad enough. Being stranded without power would be worse. Luckily, you don't have to worry about your family back at home; with nor'easters a frequent occurrence where you live, your family is prepared with a backup generator and plenty of food and supplies.


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