Hurricane Sandy is becoming a monster storm. Hurricane force winds extend out 175 miles from the center. Tropical storm force winds extend over 500 miles from the center. Ship reports seen in the graphic above confirm the tropical storm force winds in the central Atlantic. Hurricane hunters are also finding hurricane force winds on the dirty side of the storm. Sandy will traverse a warm ribbon of water known as the gulf stream leading to further intensification today and tomorrow.
Sandy's impact on the US will be enormous. On its current track, storm surge will be highest in the Long Island sound/New York harbor region. Significant damage from flooding waves of water as high as 6 to 11 feet are forecast for this region. Add 4" to 8" of rain water into the mix and you have fresh water flooding well inland through early this week.
Sandy is definitely on a course to become a historical cyclone even if it isn't a pure hurricane. The National Hurricane Centers forecast has Sandy becoming extra-tropical before making landfall. That means Sandy will transition into a deep nor'easter type storm. Heavy snow will fall on the Western portions of the storm along with hurricane force driven rains to the East.
Here's the latest from the National Hurricane Center. . .
Sandy is definitely on a course to become a historical cyclone even if it isn't a pure hurricane. The National Hurricane Centers forecast has Sandy becoming extra-tropical before making landfall. That means Sandy will transition into a deep nor'easter type storm. Heavy snow will fall on the Western portions of the storm along with hurricane force driven rains to the East.
Here's the latest from the National Hurricane Center. . .
SUMMARY OF 200 PM EDT...1800 UTC...INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------- LOCATION...32.8N 71.9W ABOUT 270 MI...440 KM SE OF CAPE HATTERAS NORTH CAROLINA ABOUT 575 MI...930 KM S OF NEW YORK CITY MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...75 MPH...120 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...NE OR 50 DEGREES AT 14 MPH...22 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...951 MB...28.08 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY... NONE. SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT... A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR... * CAPE FEAR TO DUCK NORTH CAROLINA * PAMLICO AND ALBEMARLE SOUNDS * BERMUDA IN ADDITION...HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED ALONG PORTIONS OF THE COAST BETWEEN CHINCOTEAGUE VIRGINIA AND CHATHAM MASSACHUSETTS. THIS INCLUDES THE MIDDLE AND UPPER CHESAPEAKE BAY...DELAWARE BAY...AND THE COASTS OF THE NORTHERN DELMARVA PENINSULA...NEW JERSEY...THE NEW YORK CITY AREA...LONG ISLAND...CONNECTICUT...AND RHODE ISLAND. TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED NORTH OF CHATHAM TO MERRIMACK RIVER MASSACHUSETTS...THE LOWER CHESAPEAKE BAY...AND SOUTH OF CHINCOTEAGUE TO DUCK NORTH CAROLINA...THE NORTHERN ENDPOINT OF THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING. OTHER COASTAL AND INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT FOR THESE AREAS. PLEASE SEE STATEMENTS FROM LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICES. FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA IN THE UNITED STATES...INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE. FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR NATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE.
