Saturday 9:15pm.. Just a quick update on Hurricane Sandy.. The center of the storm is located about 540 KMS ESE of Charleston SC with max sustained winds of 120 KMH. The storm is moving NNE at 20 KMH and is expected to remain at or near hurricane strength over the next 2 days. Sandy is expected to interact with a strong trough of low pressure approaching the east coast on Sunday which will draw the storm northwestward toward the east coast of the US o Moday. This interaction will cause the storm to transition to an Extra-tropical system and will result in a strengthening of the winds and expansion of the wind field. The latest computer models are forecasting a landfall vicinity southern NJ early Tuesday morning. The storm is then expected to weaken and move inland towards eastern Lake Ontario. Heavy rains are expected across the entire area with heavy snows in the colder western areas of Quebec and Ontario. Rainfall across the Maritimes may approach the 50 mms range but will all depend on eventual speed and track of the remnants. Winds will be strong up and down the east coast and will spread into the eastern Great lakes areas as well. Strongest winds for the Maritimes will be the most southwestern regions of NS and NB.
This particular weather set-up is a rarity and the computer models have little experience handling it, therefor all interest up and down the east coast including inland regions up to the eastern Great lakes need to monitor the progress of this system.
HAZARDS.. Large wind field will effect a large area of the populous east coast and inland regions to the eastern Great Lakes. Strong winds of hurricane force will accompany the system at land fall. Prolonged heavy rainfall will cause inland flooding. Storm surge will result in coastal flooding north of the expected landfall which will occur on the monthly high lunar tides. Trees still have foliage which are expected to cause extensive power failures through the effected areas.
Effects on PEI.. A few showers are expected to begin o Sunday and continue through Monday becoming periods of rain at times heavy on Tuesday. Showers are expected through the remainder of the work week due to the slow motion of the system through the region. Amounts are difficult to determine at this time until the system moves inland and it s track realized. Strongest winds are expected to occur on Tuesday and Wednesday with easterly winds gusting to 70/80 kmh possible. If landfall occurs farther north then winds could be stronger. Please consult the lastest advisories issued from the Canadian Hurricane Center at http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/hurricane/statements_e.html
