Which term describes a storm characterized by strong winds and heavy precipitation along the East Coast of North America?

The term that describes a storm characterized by strong winds and heavy precipitation along the East Coast of North America is specifically "Nor'easter." These storms typically occur when cold air from northern regions meets warm, moist air from the Atlantic Ocean, leading to significant snowfall or rainfall, strong winds, and sometimes coastal flooding. Nor'easters often take shape during the autumn and winter months and can have widespread impacts on the East Coast's weather and environment.

Other storm types, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and thunderstorms, although they can also produce strong winds and heavy precipitation, have different characteristics, formation processes, and typical locations. Hurricanes, for instance, are tropical cyclones that form over warm ocean waters and have a different seasonal pattern, primarily affecting coastal regions in the late summer and early fall. Tornadoes are rapidly rotating columns of air that touch the ground, typically associated with severe thunderstorms, and are not confined to any single region in the same way nor'easters are. Thunderstorms range in intensity and can occur anywhere, but they do not specifically refer to the coastal storm conditions seen in nor'easters. Thus, "Nor'easter" is the most accurate term for the described weather phenomenon.