Rare Nor’easter Strikes Northeast, Causes Tornadoes, Flooding, Disrupts Memorial Day

A rare late-season nor'easter is impacting the Northeast region ahead of Memorial Day weekend, bringing steady rain, strong winds, and cooler temperatures. The storm consists of two areas of low pressure, one inland and one off the mid-Atlantic coast, causing severe weather including confirmed tornadoes near Pittsburgh and flooding in Pennsylvania. The coastal low off Long Island is intensifying, expected to deliver heavy rain ranging from 1 to 3 inches through New England, with potential urban flooding and travel disruptions, particularly in New York City and Massachusetts. Wind gusts are forecast to reach up to 55 mph in parts of eastern Massachusetts, raising concerns about downed trees and power outages amid saturated ground and leafed-out trees. Coastal flooding is possible due to high tides, with water levels rising up to 6 inches above normal in some shoreline areas. The storm is expected to diminish by Friday, with temperatures gradually warming over the weekend, although unsettled weather may persist into next week due to a blocking jet stream pattern.