Oct. 13 (UPI) -- A powerful nor'easter continued to batter the Atlantic coast on Monday with heavy rain, strong winds and storm surge, with coastal flood warnings in effect from North Carolina to Rhode Island.

A nor'easter is named for the strong northeasterly winds that blow in from the Atlantic Ocean. Despite tropical storm-type gusts up to 60 mph, the nor'easter was not given a name by the National Hurricane Center, Accuweather.com reported.

The National Weather Service issued coastal flood alerts and high surf advisories throughout the Northeast, though conditions should improve by Monday night.

"Coastal flooding is ongoing across portions of the East Coast as a low-pressure system in the western Atlantic brings persistent and strong onshore winds to coastal regions," the NWS said Monday. "This combined with high astronomical tides could lead to additional beach erosion. Rip currents and high surf also continue, along with scattered to widespread showers in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast."

From North Carolina to New York, storm surge reached 3 to 4 feet in some areas, including 3.12 feet in Cape May, N.J., and 3.23 feet in Kings Point, N.Y.

From the mid-Atlantic to the Northeast coast, moderate to major flooding was still possible, ABC News reported. A high surf advisory was in effect for Maine for waves measuring between 5 feet and 10 feet.

By Tuesday, the storm will move out to the Atlantic Ocean with only sprinkles and light rain forecast.

Conditions were much worse on Monday with wind gusts up to across the Tri-State area of Connecticut, New Jersey and New York, including 30 mph to 40 mph forecast from the Jersey Shore to Long Island through Monday night.

"We're seeing winds gradually diminish but still gusty at times -- not as strong as the overnight period, meteorologist Sarah Johnson of the National Weather Service told northjersey.com. "We'll continue to have off-and-on lightning, but rain totals aren't expected to reach flood levels."

Water levels from rainfall and strong onshore winds were 1 to 3 feet above normal during high tide on Monday afternoon.

On Sunday, winds gusted up to 60 mph at Surf City, N.J., were reported. The state declared a state of emergency.

Thousands were without power Monday in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts, according to PowerOutage.us.

In New York City, a 76-year-old woman was killed on Sunday morning by a 7-foot solar panel that came loose due to strong winds.

The storm caused cancellations and delays at airports in Boston, New York and Washington, D.C. Through Monday night, Boston Logan International had 275 departures and arrival canceled with 197 at LaGuardia in New York, according to FlightAware.

Nationwide, there were 6,032 delays and 934 cancellations within, into or out.

Some roads were closed in New Jersey because of downed trees. And the Montclair-Boonton line had a 30-minute delay because of a downed tree, New Jersey Transit reported.

New York City's 81st annual Columbus Day Parade was canceled.

Nor'easter batters East Coast with high winds, heavy rain, storm surge