Nor'easter: A counterclockwise turning cyclone (a storm system circulating around a center) similar to a hurricane. Nor'easters occur in the eastern United States any time between October and April, when moisture and cold air are plentiful. Once the system is formed, the earth's rotation causes the air to circle around the center (similar to when you drain the water out of your bathtub). This creates the northeast wind, hence it's name nor'easter. They typically form near the Bahamas or north of Cuba, along the Appalachians or off Cape Hatteras. They are known for dumping heavy amounts of rain and snow, producing hurricane-force winds, and creating high surfs that cause severe beach erosion and coastal flooding. What nor'easters don't achieve in wind speed as compared with hurricanes, they achieve in duration (up to a week) and size (up to 1000 miles or more in diameter).

Squall: A short but furious storm with strong winds, often small in area and moving at high speed, which may contain heavy precipitation, hail, frequent lightning, dangerous straight line winds, and possibly funnel clouds, tornadoes, and waterspouts.