North Carolina

North Carolina is first stop for nor’easter tracking up East Coast. See expected impacts

Published

5 months ago

October 11, 2025

Press Room

North Carolina is first stop for nor’easter tracking up East Coast. See expected impacts

A powerful nor’easter is expected to impact the East Coast this weekend, starting with the Carolinas.
The storm is forecast to bring heavy rain, strong winds, coastal flooding and dangerous surf conditions.
Impacts could stretch from the Carolinas up to Massachusetts as the storm tracks north through early next week.
Nor’easters are coastal storms fueled by the contrast between cold land air and warm ocean waters.

A powerful nor’easter may wreak havoc on the East Coast this weekend, slamming the Carolinas on its path to the Northeast.

Marking the first nor’easter of the season, the coastal storm is known for strong and dangerous waves, high winds and heavy rainfall. In previous nor’easter events, the Outer Banks has experienced severe beach erosion, coastal flooding and dangerous surf conditions — sometimes literally knocking down homes and washing away sections of roadway.

As the storm tracks north, forecasters warn it could bring similar hazards to coastal communities from Virginia to Massachusetts, including power outages, travel disruptions and marine dangers with seas topping 10 feet, according to the National Weather Service office.

The exact track will determine which regions see the heaviest impacts, but residents along the East Coast should prepare for worsening conditions through early next week. A dry high-pressure system is expected to move in, bringing calmer weather and milder temperatures to North Carolina on Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 13–14.

“A coastal low will lift north along the Carolina coast through the weekend,” the National Weather Service office wrote in an area forecast discussion early Saturday, Oct. 11. “This system may bring rain to the North Carolina Piedmont and eastern Upstate late Saturday through Sunday as it passes by to our east. The low will continue to slowly track northeast along the Mid-Atlantic Coast early next week, with dry high pressure and above normal temperatures returning to the region.”

What is a nor’easter?

A nor’easter is a storm along the East Coast of North America that typically blow over coastal areas. These storms can occur at any time of year but are most frequent and most intense between September and April, according to the National Weather Service.

Nor’easters usually develop between Georgia and New Jersey, within about 100 miles of the coast, and generally move northeastward, reaching maximum intensity near New England and the Canadian Maritime Provinces. They often bring heavy precipitation — rain or snow — along with gale-force winds, rough seas and sometimes coastal flooding.

Potential impacts of the nor’easter in North Carolina

Heavy rain: Several inches of rain could fall, reducing visibility and creating localized flooding in coastal and low-lying areas.
Strong winds: Northeasterly gusts could reach 60 mph, especially near the coast, posing risks for power outages and downed trees.
Marine hazards: Seas of 6 to 8 feet are expected along exposed waters east of Cape Fear and Winyah Bay. A Gale Warning is in effect, and small craft operators are advised to remain in port.
Coastal flooding: Minor flooding is possible along beaches and low-lying areas — including downtown Wilmington and the lower Cape Fear River — as high tides combine with residual effects from last week’s full moon.
Rip currents: A high risk is in effect along New Hanover County beaches through the weekend.
Reduced visibility: Heavy rain and strong winds may create hazardous driving and boating conditions.

How much rain is expected? Rain forecast totals across the East Coast

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts several inches of rain in eastern North Carolina.

These are the estimated rainfall amounts for regions affected by the nor’easter on the East Coast through Tuesday, Oct. 14.

Eastern North Carolina to Southern Virginia:

2.5 to 5 inches
Core areas near the coast show even 5 to 7 inches

Mid-Atlantic Coast

3 to 5 inches, especially near the coast
Some isolated coastal pockets appear to approach 6+ inches

New York (Downstate and Long Island)

2 to 4 inches, heavier near the coast

Southern New England (Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts)

2 to 4 inches, locally higher amounts possible near the southeast-facing coast

Eastern Pennsylvania & Upstate New York (east side)

1 to 2.5 inches, tapering westward

Coastal Southeast (South Carolina and Georgia):

1 to 3 inches, heaviest near the northern part of the South Carolina coast

Why is it called nor’easter?

It’s called a nor’easter because of the direction of the prevailing winds during the storm. In these systems, the winds along the coast usually blow from the northeast.

How do nor’easters develop?

The U.S. East Coast provides an ideal environment for nor’easters. In winter, the polar jet stream pushes cold Arctic air south across Canada and the U.S., then east toward the Atlantic Ocean, according to the National Weather Service. At the same time, warm air from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic moves northward. The contrast between the cold land air and relatively warm coastal waters — kept mild by the Gulf Stream — fuels these storms, creating the strong winds and precipitation that define a Nor’easter.

Do Nor’easters always have snow?

No. Whether a nor’easter brings snow, rain, or a mix depends on the storm’s track and temperatures:

Snow: Most common in the northern Mid-Atlantic and New England when Arctic air dominates.
Rain: More likely in the Southeast and southern Mid-Atlantic, where temperatures are warmer.
Mixed precipitation: Possible in areas near the transition zone, with sleet or freezing rain.

Even without snow, Nor’easters can still produce strong winds, heavy rain, rough seas and coastal flooding, making them dangerous storms regardless of the type of precipitation.

How do they differ from tropical systems? Nor’easters vs. hurricanes and tropical storms

Nor’easters are typically associated with colder seasons and form from a temperature contrast between cold Arctic air and relatively warm Atlantic waters.

Tropical storms and hurricanes form over warm tropical or subtropical waters, and predominantly develop in warmer months.

Nor’easters also have a larger wind field, while tropical storms have a well-defined eye with the strongest winds near the center.

North Carolina weather radar

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Brandi D. Addison covers weather across the United States as the Weather Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network.

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North Carolina

Report: Asheville gas prices rise, more increases expected amid war in Middle East

Published

1 hour ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Report: Asheville gas prices rise, more increases expected amid war in Middle East

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Drivers in Asheville are paying slightly more at the pump this week, even as prices remain below where they were a year ago. Amid a rapidly escalating war in the Middle East, however, fuel prices are expected to rise even further.

Average gasoline prices in Asheville have risen 2.1 cents per gallon in the last week and are averaging $2.70 per gallon on Monday, March 2, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 259 stations in Asheville. Prices in Asheville are 2.3 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 10 cents per gallon lower than a year ago, per the GasBuddy report.

Neighboring areas also saw increases, according to new data. Spartanburg is averaging $2.66 per gallon, up 9.3 cents per gallon from last week’s $2.57 per gallon. Greenville is averaging $2.65 per gallon, up 8.9 cents per gallon from last week’s $2.57 per gallon.

US STOCKS SLIP, OIL PRICES LEAP WITH WORRIES THAT WAR IN MIDDLE EAST WILL WORSEN INFLATION

According to GasBuddy, gasoline prices nationwide have risen for four straight weeks.

Across the country, the national average price of gasoline has risen 5.6 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.94 per gallon on Monday. The national average is up 7.8 cents per gallon from a month ago and is 10.1 cents per gallon lower than a year ago, according to GasBuddy data.

Diesel prices also moved higher. The national average price of diesel increased 5.4 cents compared to a week ago and stands at $3.740 per gallon.

“Looking ahead, markets will now begin reacting to this weekend’s U.S.–Iran attacks, which have elevated geopolitical risk premiums even in the absence of immediate supply disruption,” Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said via a press release. “In the week ahead, gasoline prices are likely to face heightened upward pressure as seasonal trends continue and markets navigate this evolving geopolitical landscape, with the national average poised to reach the $3-per-gallon mark for the first time this year.”

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In Asheville, GasBuddy price reports showed the cheapest station was priced at $2.47 per gallon. Meanwhile, the most expensive station was priced at $3.09 per gallon, a difference of 62.0 cents per gallon.

GasBuddy also provided a look at gas prices in Asheville on March 2 in the past five years:

March 2, 2025: $2.80/g (U.S. Average: $3.04/g)
March 2, 2024: $3.08/g (U.S. Average: $3.34/g)
March 2, 2023: $3.14/g (U.S. Average: $3.35/g)
March 2, 2022: $3.56/g (U.S. Average: $3.69/g)
March 2, 2021: $2.56/g (U.S. Average: $2.74/g)

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North Carolina

North Carolina father-to-be saved by quick-thinking pregnant wife after suffering sudden heart attack

Published

13 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

North Carolina father-to-be saved by quick-thinking pregnant wife after suffering sudden heart attack

A North Carolina man who unknowingly lived with a rare heart condition was saved by his pregnant wife after he suddenly went into cardiac arrest while lounging in bed.

Brandon Whitfield, 39, was already preparing for one drastic lifestyle change when his wife, Angela, became pregnant last spring.

Then, he suffered an unexpected heart attack when she was just nine weeks along.

“I was eating carrot cake in bed watching the hockey playoffs. And mid-conversation, I just started to slump over,” Brandon recounted to WSOC-TV.

Angela didn’t think anything of it for a few seconds, figuring Brandon might just be groggy or joking, but “jumped into action” when she realized “this was an emergency.”

Thankfully, Angela has worked as a physician assistant for more than a decade. She knew what to do instantly and, after calling 911, started to perform CPR on her prone husband.

Angela was shaken in the moments after, though, as she started to rationalize what she’d just had to do.

“You absolutely never ever think you are going to have to do CPR on your spouse,” she told the outlet.

“I thought I may be a widow,” she added.

Brandon was rushed to a nearby Novant Health medical center and, to his horror, diagnosed with a rare heart condition.

“Just because you’re young and you’re fit and you’re relatively healthy doesn’t mean that heart disease can’t happen to you,” Brandon told the outlet.

Brandon was quick to laud his wife with praise.

“It was nothing short of a miracle. Everything lined up for her to be there. It was not my time,” he said.

In the wake of his shocking diagnosis, Brandon had to adopt a Mediterranean diet and is trying to be “more mindful” about what he eats — which means no more carrot cake.

After his brush with death, the dad-to-be implored others who may be taking their lives for granted to make sure they don’t leave anything unsaid, just in case their final days are nearer than they think.

“If you can do something today, do it today. If you can tell your family you love them, do it,” he said.

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North Carolina

How to buy tickets for Duke basketball vs NC State in ACC contest

Published

1 day ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

How to buy tickets for Duke basketball vs NC State in ACC contest

It’s Duke basketball against N.C. State at the Lenovo Center on Monday, March 2.

The top-ranked Blue Devils (27-2, 15-1 ACC) and head coach Jon Scheyer are set to take on the Wolfpack (19-10, 10-6) and first year head coach Will Wade at 7 p.m. on ESPN in Raleigh.

Duke is coming off its sixth-straight win, a 77-51 rout over Virginia at Cameron Indoor Stadium. N.C. State, which has lost four of its last five, is coming off a 96-90 road loss in overtime to Notre Dame. The Blue Devils sit atop conference standings while the Wolfpack rank sixth in the league.

The Blue Devils own the all-time series against the Wolfpack 83-52 and sit at 27-27 on the road at the Lenovo Center. Duke has won six out of its last four contests against N.C. State.

Here’s how to buy tickets for Duke basketball vs. N.C. State:

Duke basketball tickets vs NC State

Duke has established a ticket waitlist program for men’s basketball games. Fans can register for the waitlist at GoDuke.com. Those on the waiting list may have the opportunity to purchase tickets, when and if tickets become available. Iron Dukes members have the first opportunity to purchase available tickets.

As for the secondary market, ticket prices for Duke’s game vs. N.C. State start at $72 on StubHub and go upwards of $712. On VividSeats, tickets range from $62-$1,156 while ranging from $63-$432 on Ticketmaster.

To see a full list of ticket prices, visit StubHub.

What time is Duke vs NC State?

Date: Monday, March 2

Time: 7 p.m. ET

The Duke basketball game vs. N.C. State game tips off at 7 p.m. ET from the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Where to watch Duke vs NC State

TV Channel: ESPN

Stream: Fubo

The Duke vs. N.C. State game will air on ESPN and can be streamed on Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Anna Snyder covers Duke for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at asnyder@usatodayco.com or follow her @annaesnydr on X, formerly known as Twitter.

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