nor'easter

American  

[nawr-ee-ster] / ˌnɔrˈi stər /

noun

Meteorology.

1. an eastern North American storm that usually develops between the Georgia and New Jersey latitudes, progressing northeastward and typified by potentially violent northeast winds: most frequent and intense from September through April, nor’easters can develop within a hundred miles of the east coast and commonly bring heavy rain or snow and coastal damage.

   The nor’easter of 1992 breached the island and destroyed many homes.

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Etymology

Origin of nor'easter

First recorded in 1830–40; by shortening of northeaster

Example Sentences

Mayor Zohran Mamdani was forced by this nor’easter to make an even more concerted push this week, expanding their ranks and even bumping up their pay, as of Monday, from $19 an hour to $30.

From Slate • Feb. 24, 2026

The so-called "nor'easter" has now moved away from the US and across coastal parts of eastern Canada, though strong winds are expected to persist, according to the National Weather Service.

From BBC • Feb. 24, 2026

The storm is such a doozy that it qualifies as a nor’easter, a bomb cyclone and a blizzard, meteorologists said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026

A nor’easter is now making its way over to the East Coast, with 50-mph gusts and inches of rainfall in store for New England.

From Slate • May 22, 2025

I lost a large branch that was weakened by wet snow during a nor’easter.

From "Wishtree" by Katherine Applegate