Meaning
In New England and the wider northeastern United States, a nor'easter is a strong East Coast storm associated with northeasterly winds and capable of bringing heavy snow or rain, strong winds, large waves, coastal flooding, and major travel disruption.
How it is used
NOAA defines a nor'easter as an East Coast storm named for the direction of its characteristic coastal winds and notes impacts across New England and the Mid-Atlantic. Merriam-Webster's New England regional guide adds that the word most often refers there to a strong winter storm, especially along the coast.
Examples
- “The nor'easter could make the evening commute difficult.”
- “They stocked up before the nor'easter reached the coast.”
- “The latest nor'easter brought heavy snow across parts of New England.”
Pronunciation
· nor-EE-ster
Tone and register
Neutral and practical. The word belongs to weather reports, travel planning, school and work conversations, and ordinary discussion of major coastal storms rather than to playful slang.
Visitor guidance
Visitors should recognize nor'easter as regional weather vocabulary, not as a Boston-only term. The storms affect a much wider East Coast area, while New England gives the word especially strong everyday and cultural visibility during the colder part of the year.
Cultural context
Nor'easter shows how regional vocabulary can describe a recurring environmental reality. In New England, coastal exposure, winter travel, snow preparation, power outages, and flood risk make the term part of practical seasonal language as well as meteorology.
Origin
NOAA explains that nor'easter is named for the northeasterly winds that typically blow over coastal areas during this type of storm; Merriam-Webster treats nor'easter as a variant spelling of northeaster and highlights its established New England use.
Places represented
Open the reviewed place guide for each regional sense carried by this canonical entry.