Sunday 6:20am.. Not much change in the official forecast from the recent models runs. Hurricane Sandy is located about 635 KMS east of Charleston SC and moving NE at 20 KMH with max sustained winds of 120 KMH. Sandy ix expected to interact with a strong trough of low pressure approaching the east coast on Monday causing the hurricane to turn northwestward towards the east coast and transition to a extra-tropical low pressure system. A strengthening of the wind and an expansion of the wind field will result in this interaction. The storm should move inland along the southern NJ coastline near 3:00AM Tuesday morning. The storm is the expected to weaken as it moves inland the passing close to eastern Lake Ontario o Thursday morning.
Hazards.. Strong winds of hurricane force will move inland at landfall. Tropical storm winds will continue inland as the storm weakens. Storm surge is expected along the east coast north of the expected land falling center. Heavy rainfall will occur over the effected areas due to the slow motion of this system. Heavy snows are expected in the colder regions of Quebec and Ontario as well as parts of the eastern US. Trees are full of foliage at this time and widespread power outages are expected through the effected areas.
PEI.. Easterly winds gusting to 60-70 KMH possible on Tuesday and Wednesday. Rainfall amounts in the 30 mm range expected over the next couple days.
Interests up and down the east coast as well as inland regions should monitor the progress of this storm over the next couple days. For more info please consult the National Hurricane Center (NHC) at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ and the Canadian Hurricane Center at http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/hurricane/statements_e.html
