Serious flooding is underway from a strong nor’easter unleashing damaging winds as it moves up the East Coast

By CNN’s Dakin Andone, CNN Meteorologists Linda Lam and Mary Gilbert

An impactful nor’easter is strengthening and unleashing damaging wind gusts, heavy rain and coastal flooding as it tracks up the mid-Atlantic coast.

The storm is packing a serious punch as it slowly moves north and disrupts air travel at major Northeast airports and threatens to push the ocean into homes and onto roads along the mid-Atlantic coast.

This coastal storm is called a nor’easter due to the prevailing wind direction from the northeast ahead of its center. These northeast winds push water toward the coast, causing it to erode beaches and pile up and cause flooding.

Here’s the latest:

• Water rescues: Authorities in Georgetown, South Carolina, rescued several motorists trapped Sunday morning by floodwaters due to a “copious amount of rainfall” that fell in just a few hours, Georgetown County Emergency Services Director Brandon Ellis told CNN. Georgetown recorded nearly 10 inches of rain in the past 24 hours.
• Punishing winds: Wind gusts over 50 mph have been observed in North Carolina, Virginia, Delaware and New Jersey as of Sunday afternoon. A gust of 61 mph was measured at North Carolina’s Cape Lookout while gusts for New Jersey’s Sea Isle City spiked to 59 mph. Strong winds gusts will continue to spread north.
• Dangerous coastal flooding: Water levels were rising early Sunday afternoon from North Carolina into the Northeast. Water levels in Duck, North Carolina, hit major flood stage late Sunday morning with dozens of other locales expected to see major or moderate flooding in the coming hours. Some locations could see water levels reach a mark not touched in more than a decade into Monday.
• Travel woes: The storm is already affecting air travel in the Northeast, with ground delays Sunday afternoon due to weather at Boston Logan, Reagan National, Newark Liberty, Philadelphia, John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia airports, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Significant coastal flooding ongoing

Dozens of river gauge locations are expected to reach moderate or major flood stage, the most severe level, from this nor’easter. Areas from the Virginia Tidewater into Delaware and southern New Jersey are of particular concern.

The major coastal flooding could inundate roads and homes, as well as cause beach erosion when combined with the heavy rain and strong winds.

Water levels could climb near major flood stage Sunday afternoon at Atlantic City, New Jersey, and then rise above 8 feet Monday, which would be the highest level observed since Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Atlantic City water levels were nearing moderate flood stage early Sunday afternoon, and enough floodwater had already come ashore to shut down Route 40 and Route 30 — commonly known as the White Horse Pike — in both directions in and out of the city. Levels at Cape May, New Jersey, are projected to reach over 8 feet and would be the third-highest on record and the highest since January 2016.

New Jersey Transit also announced impacts to its service, with suspensions in place along parts of the North Jersey Coast and Atlantic City Rail lines.

The slow movement of the nor’easter will result in multiple rounds of coastal flooding and increase the beach erosion potential up and down the East Coast.

This potent coastal storm has already caused coastal flooding in the Southeast. Portions of North Carolina Highway 12 are closed Sunday due to ocean overwash. The Department of Transportation has warned drivers that travel is dangerous in the Outer Banks.

Ongoing beach erosion in the Outer Banks will add to concerns there. At least nine unoccupied homes have collapsed into the Atlantic since September 30 due to intense wave action and erosion from recent storms.

Charleston Harbor in South Carolina reached major flood stage Saturday afternoon and Friday morning, flooding streets there.

Heavy rain is also amping up the threat level: The motorists rescued from floodwater in Georgetown, South Carolina, were “checked on by fire personnel, removed from their vehicles and brought to dry ground,” Ellis said, adding no injuries have been reported. He did not have an exact number of people rescued but estimated about a half dozen were assisted within the city.

Though officials there hope the worst is behind them, Ellis urged motorists to “turn around, don’t drown” when encountering flood water or barricades.

Leaders urge vigilance

Leaders up and down the East Coast have told residents in their states to be cautious. Acting New Jersey Gov. Tahesha Way declared a state of emergency that went into effect Saturday night “out of an abundance of caution,” asking residents to stay off the roads “unless absolutely necessary.”

Governors like Kathy Hochul of New York and Wes Moore of Maryland stopped short of declaring emergencies but still urged vigilance.

“I also encourage all Marylanders to ensure their loved ones and neighbors are properly monitoring the potential for high winds, rain, and flooding,” Moore said. “Take care of yourself. Take care of your people.”

Atlantic City has been getting ready for the storm over the last week, Mayor Marty Small Sr. told CNN on Sunday, adding the city had learned from past storms like Sandy how best to prepare.

“We always prepare for the worst and keep hoping for the best,” the city’s Acting Emergency Management Coordinator Michael Famularo told CNN.

Wind, heavy rain not just coastal concerns

Climate change is supercharging the winds of the strongest nor’easters, a recent study found, and this one has the potential to bring significant impacts to multiple locations along the East Coast.

Strong, prolonged damaging wind gusts of 40 to 55 mph will lash the coast as the storm crawls north. Some of the strongest gusts over 55 mph are expected from New Jersey into southern New England. These wind gusts are as strong as what a tropical storm produces, despite this storm not being classified as one.

The high winds could last into Tuesday morning along the Northeast coast and could down tree branches and send unsecured objects flying.

Power outages are possible, especially in coastal areas, and gusty winds will stretch farther inland to more heavily populated areas. Windy conditions will likely cause air travel delays and cancellations Sunday and Monday for major hubs like Washington, DC, New York City and Boston.

Rainfall of 1 to 3 inches will be common along the East Coast, with some spots in eastern North Carolina and southeastern New England possibly picking up totals of up to 6 inches. Localized flash flooding will be a concern in areas that experience multiple rounds of heavy rain.

The nor’easter will finally either weaken or pull away from the coast Tuesday. High pressure will build in behind the storm, resulting in dry weather and decreasing winds.

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CNN’s Leigh Waldman and Sara Smart contributed reporting to this story.