New Jersey braces for Hurricane Sandy impact

Hurricane Sandy is centered off the coast of North Carolina coast and is expected to lose tropical characteristics in about 36 hours as it moves northward.

According to latest public advisory by US National Hurricane Center (NHC) from 03:00 UTC on October 29, the center of Hurricane Sandy  was located 34.5N 70.5W about 465 km (290 miles) E of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina and about 760 km (470 miles) SSE of New York City. Maximum sustained winds are 120 km/h (75 mph) with higher gusts. Sandy is moving northeastward at 22 km/h (14 mph). Minimum central pressure is 950 mB.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 280 km (175 miles) mainly to the southwest of the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 835 km (520 miles). Winds of hurricane force could reach the mid-Atlantic states, including Long Island on Monday. Winds affecting the upper floors of high-rise buildings will be significantly stronger than those near ground level.

 

Warnings and watches in effect

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for north of Surf City to Duck, North Carolina, Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds and Bermuda. Hurricane-force winds are expected along portions of the coast between Chincoteague, Virginia and Chatham, Massachusetts. This includes the tidal Potomac from Cobb Island to Smith Point, 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 end point of the Tropical Storm Warning. Other coastal and inland watches and warnings are in effect for these areas.

Tropical storm conditions are already occurring over coastal North Carolina and southeastern Virginia. Gale force winds are expected to arrive along portions of the mid-Atlantic coast later tonight and reach Long Island and southern New England by Monday morning.

While the highest point of impact is still about 36 hours away, water levels along the East Coast have already begun to rise. High storm surge levels, from 6 to 11 feet, are possible in some areas. As an expansive extra-tropical system, Sandy’s winds will have a long, sweeping overwater fetch, with an extended duration of strong onshore winds, which will enhance surge levels. The duration of storm-generated elevated water levels may span the tide cycle, so that some surge occurring at high tide is likely. The moon is almost full, so the tides are stronger than average.

According to GDACS calculations, up to 15 million people can be affected by wind speeds of cyclone strength or above. In addition, 470000 people are living in coastal areas below 5m and can therefore be affected by storm surge.

State by state impact forecasts

 Here, on video bellow, you can see the full day of October 28 as seen by GOES 14 using super rapid scan.

Sandy is expected to transition into a frontal or wintertime low pressure system prior to landfall. However, this transition will not be accompanied by a weakening of the system and in fact, a little strengthening is possible during this process. Sandy is expected to weaken after moving inland.

Hurricane Sandy is expected to transform into an extremely powerful extra-tropical storm system as it turns to the northwest Monday and moves onto the Mid-Atlantic coast Monday night or early Tuesday. The storm is expected to cause significant disruption, causing storm surge, high winds, and heavy rains in the populous areas along the eastern seaboard. Some regions are expected to receive heavy snow.

The tropical cyclone is being blocked by an intense high-pressure system over the North Atlantic and is expected to merge with a winter weather system moving across North America. Sandy will likely become a post-tropical storm that could affect an area from the Carolinas to New England, and as far inland as the Great Lakes.

Radar

• Mt. Holly  – Long Range  (NOAA)
• Dover  – Long Range  (NOAA)
• Wakefield  – Long Range  (NOAA)
• Morehead City  – Long Range  (NOAA)

Satellite Animations

• Storm-Centered Infrared  (GOES 13; NOAA/SSD)
• Storm-Centered Infrared (Aviation Color Enhancement)  (GOES 13; NOAA/SSD)
• Storm-Centered Water Vapor  (GOES 13; NOAA/SSD)
• Storm-Centered Visible  (GOES 13; NOAA/SSD)
• Storm-Centered Visible (Colorized)  (GOES 13; NOAA/SSD)

• Eastern U.S./West Atlantic Infrared  (GOES 13; NOAA/SSD)
• Eastern U.S./West Atlantic Infrared (Aviation Color Enhancement)  (GOES 13; NOAA/SSD)
• Eastern U.S./West Atlantic Water Vapor  (GOES 13; NOAA/SSD)
• Eastern U.S./West Atlantic Visible  (GOES 13; NOAA/SSD)
• Eastern U.S./West Atlantic Visible (Colorized)  (GOES 13; NOAA/SSD)