A nor'easter is a fierce storm. It occurs when a low pressure system from the south Atlantic moves up the east coast and meets with a high pressure system, from the north, arctic area. It brings high winds, rain, snow, and may cause severe damage.
Some areas receive this amount of snow, depending on how hard the storm has hit. Some places receive more or less snow.
The winds are northeasterly. Some wind speeds are greater than those of hurricanes! Features from tropical storms can appear in nor'easters. They are most common during the winter, but nor'easters can occur anytime of year.
This an example of damage that can occur during a nor'easter, especially for someone living near the coast. This occured when large waves crashed upon the shore due to the high winds of the storm.
"Picture a giant, wet Frisbee spinning counterclockwise as it flies north along the Atlantic Coast and you'll see the movement of a nor'easter." (http://www3.cet.edu/weather2/h17.html)
Picture Sources:
http://www.bhsonline.org/teachers/prodanas/weather/78bliz12.jpg
http://msnbcmedia1.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/070417/070417_noreaster_hmed_1030a.h2.jpg
Information Sources:
http://www.weather.com/encyclopedia/winter/noreast.html
http://www3.cet.edu/weather2/h17.html
http://www.howstuffworks.com/question595.htm
