Hurricane Sandy update
Sandy now a hurricane, threatening East Coast.
Hurricane Sandy update
That a storm named “Sandy” would represent a major menace to East Coast beaches is
perhaps ironic, but recent model runs suggest that the Jersey Shore and the rest of the East have reason to be nervous.
Late this morning, the National Hurricane Center declared Sandy a hurricane, as its winds topped the 74 m.p.h. threshold.
A hurricane watch is up for the Bahamas, and a tropical-storm watch posted for the Florida East Coast.
Since Sunday, the European forecast model has been suggesting a track that would have Sandy walloping the Midatlantic and Northeast with damaging winds, waves, and rain early next week.
This morning, the government's Hydrometeorological Prediction Center observed that the European, the U.S. Navy, and the Global Hurricane models are spinning up a "tremendously deep" storm that would affect our region.
The storm's arrival would coincide with the full moon, and the potential effects include severe erosion, high winds, major flooding -- all the candy.
The model consensus is that a frontal system crossing the East will interact with whatever remains of Sandy, creating a dangerous hybrid.
Historically, some of the most-memorable storms on record have occurred at the end of October.
The "perfect storm" of 1991 was blamed for six deaths and ripping the Jersey Shore with over $100 million damage. And, of course, just last year we had the snow-covered pumpkins.
As for the would-be coming storm, while it is only Wednesday, the recent model runs suggest that the threat is real.
The Red Cross already has weiged in "to urge everyone in our region to prepare now."
We'll keep you apprised.
I shall prepare by getting beer.— Another_1- Genny Cream Ale is tapped and ready!!! Sorry Tonner couldn't resist!— Flockey_Hockey
- To paraphrase Bruce....Sandy, the water is rising behind us.— 2ndNlong
- Milk, bread, eggs...french toast for everyone. And some toilet paper for later.— jimmymack
- It's OK Flockey_Hockey, the Tonner likes your style. The Tonner is also loaded up with Genny Cream Ale and waiting for the storm. Bring it on you mother.— hunglikeaton
- This is serious and no joke. Pay attention !— Peter of Manassas
Finally a storm strong enough to clean our streets.- Andy Reid will still pass
- We have to put the hurricane in a better position. That's my responsibility. We have to do a better job with that, obviously.— oldmathteacher
- Nothing will happen!!! Another miss by the weather guys!!— slade1955
- People in foreign nations love Obama, they know they can walk all over him!— Capsulef
- OH MY GOD !! GET TO WAWA !!! BREAD MILK EGGS! ONLY FRENCH TOAST CAN SAVE US!!!!!!
— Jah_Kitsch - Plenty of toilet paper and beer in my home. Preparation complete!!— cnova000
- Could be a bad one and factor in a full moon and those living along the coast, it's bays and our Delware might not be feeling so jovial come high tide should this storm hit our area. Factor in conditions like those of the infamous 1991 storm and it could turn into something that many predicted and feared would eventually hit the Jersey/Delaware coast......— DelawareRiverRat
- Eggs, cheese, bread, lunchmeat, milk, vodka, rum, gin, tequila, jager, iced tea, coke (cola, not the white stuff), onion rings, doritos, chips, hot pockets, cookies, halloween candy, bong and weed. Good to go.— votelibertarian
Tony Wood has been writing about the atmosphere for The Inquirer for 26 years. E-mail Tony here. And read all his columns here.
