New Jersey Nor’easter vs. Hurricane: Do You Know the Difference?

If you live in New Jersey, you've probably heard the word nor’easter more times than you can count. But every time I hear it, I have the same thought: Wait…what exactly makes this different from a hurricane? Am I the only person that wonders this same question?

Am I the only one who gets confused? Maybe, I am!

But, we know both can bring strong winds, heavy rain, flooding and angry waves to the Jersey Shore. But they actually get their start in very different ways.

So, What Makes a Hurricane a Hurricane?

A hurricane begins as a tropical weather system and gets its energy from warm ocean water. As that system becomes stronger and its winds reach hurricane strength, well, that's when we have a hurricane.

We've certainly learned around here that hurricanes can bring some serious trouble to New Jersey.

Now, What About a Nor’easter?

A nor’easter is a different kind of storm. These systems develop when different types of air come together and create a powerful storm along the East Coast.

And don't let the name fool you. A nor’easter can still mean strong winds, pounding surf, coastal flooding and beach erosion.

And Then There Was Sandy

Here's where things get interesting. Superstorm Sandy started as a hurricane before interacting with another large weather system and changing into something very different.

So, no, a nor’easter isn't automatically another Sandy.

Keep Reading: Three Ocean County Towns Are On the Top UFO NJ Sightings List

The next time you hear “nor’easter” in the forecast, you'll know we're talking about a completely different kind of storm, even if the Jersey Shore still gets a pretty wild ride.