Nor'easters are supreme storms that showcase a strength and intensity that can only be matched to hurricanes. These storms are widely publicized events that create havoc in large cities, but aid to enhance profit among ski resorts. Nor'easters also produce the majority of the season's snowfall. For instance, a city that has well below normal snowfall prior to the event would make up for lost time in virtually hours.
A classic Nor'easter produces heavy rainfall with storm force winds along the immediate coastline. In interior regions, snowfall is measured in feet, as whiteout conditions would persist. Being one of the most famous Nor'easters, 'The Superstorm of 1993' created havoc from Florida to Maine. Over 270 people died, as nearly 1.6 billion dollars was lost in property damage. The storm produced hurricane force winds, severe tidal flooding, and record snowfall that paralyzed the area up and down the eastern United States. The storm's wrath produced much the same as it moved into Canada. This storm was quickly dubbed "Storm of the Century" and will never be forgotten by many.
Nor'easters form along the Atlantic coast due to the Gulf Stream, which is a warm water current that runs along the coastline. When jet stream disturbances move over the temperature gradient, it creates lift. Due to this, low-pressure systems can form. The abundant moisture from the ocean and temperature gradient of the coastal low mixes up to create a perfect match for the development of an explosive "bomb". These storms are known as such a fact because of how they appear on surface weather maps.
The forming Nor'easter sets up a pressure gradient that creates a very strong easterly flow north of the storm and a west-northwesterly flow behind it. The storm is now a powerhouse as rain, freezing rain, sleet, and eventually snow occurs until drier air from the west moves in behind it. Not only does this storm create havoc in the Northeast, but cities near the Great Lakes (such as Buffalo) get slammed with lake-effect snows because of the strong west-northwesterly flow behind the storm. This then causes the moisture to be pulled off the lakes into the cities, which in turn creates heavy snowfall in localized areas.
No matter where one lives, powerful Nor'easters always amaze the residences that are affected by the storms wrath. They continuously throw punches that produces story headlines, profit for ski resorts, a beautiful old-fashion winter scene, and much havoc in metropolitan districts. Nevertheless, Nor'easters will always reign with much dignity as one of the fiercest phenomenon in this world.