Hurricane Sandy Pummels East Coast, Stresses Cities’ Weak Infrastructure
Posted by Warm Southern Breeze on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Like many, I’ve read a few stories, and seen a few pics from the landing of Hurricane Sandy on the United States Eastern seaboard.
Honestly, it’s difficult to go throughout the day not hearing at least one story about the extreme climatic conditions that’ve been wreaking havoc for thousands of miles, stretching North into Canada and South into the Appalachian foothills of Tennessee & North Carolina from the hurricane’s epicenter located in the New York City & New Jersey areas.
Though unlike many, I’ve not stayed glued to the weather news or developments.
Extreme climatic events in remote affected areas – unusually early and deep snowfall, including heavy rain – have accompanied this unparalleled severe weather event. Yet one of the odd things about this storm, is that – as hurricane strength is measured – it’s not a powerful storm.
Hurricane measurements grade storm intensity according to wind strength, and no other factor. Storms are placed into ascending Categories 1 – 5 depending upon wind speed associated with the storm. So, by the standards established, Hurricane – now Tropical Cyclone Sandy, which has only had maximum winds of 80 mph – has been rather puny and weak. It’s just barely a hurricane.
What has made this storm so amazing is it’s size, which has stretched for well over 1,100 miles from end-to-end. In fact, Sandy covers 1.8 million square miles, from the Mid-Atlantic to the Ohio Valley, into Canada and New England.
However, when considering the destruction that has been, and can be wreaked, the severity of damage from “storm surge” – oceanic waters washing ashore and flooding of low-lying and flood-prone areas – can be phenomenally devastating.
“On October 29, 2012 at 11 p.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Sandy was just 10 miles (15 km) southwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, near 39.8 North and 75.4 West. Sandy was still a hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 75 mph (120 kph) and moving northwest at 18 mph (30 kph). Sandy’s minimum central pressure had risen to 952 millibars. The hurricane-force-winds extended 90 miles (150 km) east of the center of circulation. Tropical-storm-force winds, however, went much further, as far as 485 miles (780 km).
“Hurricane Sandy has caused significant damage in New York City and along the Mid-Atlantic coast. Flooding has been reported from Maine to Virginia During the morning hours on October 29 (Eastern Daylight Time), nearly eight million people were without power this morning up and down the East coast. The Appalachian Mountains received some heavy snow from western Maryland down to Tennessee and North Carolina As much as 26 inches of snow had fallen in Garrett County, Maryland by the morning of October 30. According to Reuters news, flooding along the U.S. East Coast was extensive.”
| Five | ≥70 m/s, ≥137 kts ≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h |
|---|---|
| Four | 58-70 m/s, 113–136 kts, 130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h |
| Three | 50-58 m/s, 96–112 kts 111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h |
| Two | 43-49 m/s, 83–95 kts 96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h |
| One | 33-42 m/s, 64–82 kts 74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h |
| Additional classifications | |
| Tropical storm |
18-32 m/s, 35–63 kts 39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h |
| Tropical depression |
<17 m/s, <34 kts, <38 mph, <62 km/h |
What has made this storm so amazing is it’s size, which has stretched for well over 1,100 miles from end-to-end. In fact, Sandy covers 1.8 million square miles, from the Mid-Atlantic to the Ohio Valley, into Canada and New England.
Having made those observations, I’d like to share something about the obvious… which may not be so obvious.
And, it is that we, in this nation, are in sore need of updating, strengthening and reinforcing our infrastructure to help preserve, protect and defend our people from damage that accompanies severe weather events.
‘What is infrastructure,’ you ask?
“Infrastructure includes things like roads, bridges, waterways, electrical power grid, utilities (of all sort), dams, flood prevention, hospitals, etc. The OED defines infrastructure as the “basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise.” Sometimes also called “economic infrastructure,” it also comprises “the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function.” The American Society of Civil Engineers includes the following items as infrastructure, and has graded these items of American infrastructure according to their quality and robustness throughout the United States:
Even the CIA, in their World Factbook, has identified one aspect of America’s economic troubles by observing that “Long-term problems include inadequate investment in deteriorating infrastructure.”
Surely, by now, everyone knows and understands that federal spending on infrastructure is always a wise investment in the present and future, precisely because Materials and Manpower ALWAYS come from the PRIVATE sector. The long-term advantage of federal spending on economic infrastructure is that it creates capacity for private enterprise and entrepreneurs to fulfill their functions, and expand. And in the case of preventative efforts – such as to ameliorate flooding – it saves lives and property, and minimizes loss. (Isn’t that what insurance is all about?)
Now that we’re only days away from the November General Election, it is quite true that our nation faces a decision about what path to take, about how to proceed.
I cannot predict nor foretell with any degree of accuracy what the coming days will bring, though I certainly have my ideas of what I hope will happen. However, the problem I’ve addressed is neither Democrat, nor Republican. It’s not same sex, or heterosexual. It’s not Black, White, Asian, Indian, or Hispanic. It’s neither rich, poor, nor middle class. It’s neither Union nor Open. It’s not management nor worker. It’s not male, or female. It’s not city or country. It’s not farmer, laborer, factory worker, entrepreneur, business executive, or banker. It’s neither young, nor old. It is American. It affects us all. And we have the power to change. We have the power to move forward. We have the power.
Let’s use that power.
Here’s an update from weather.gov on Sandy, which has now been classified as a Tropical Storm:
Post-Tropical Cyclone Sandy Continues To Weaken Over Pennsylvania
As of 5:00 p.m. EDT the center of Post-Tropical Cyclone Sandy was located about 50 miles east-northeast of Pittsburgh, Pa. The system is moving to the west-northwest at about 10 mph. Various watches, warnings and advisories remain in effect from the Northeast coast to the Great Lakes. For information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by your local NWS forecast office.
POST-TROPICAL CYCLONE SANDY ADVISORY NUMBER 34...CORRECTED NWS HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL PREDICTION CENTER COLLEGE PARK MD AL182012 0500 PM EDT TUE OCT 30 2012 CORRECTED FOR NEXT ISSUANCE TIME. ...POST-TROPICAL CYCLONE SANDY CONTINUES TO WEAKEN OVER PENNSYLVANIA... SUMMARY OF 0500 PM EDT...2100 UTC...INFORMATION ----------------------------------------------- LOCATION...40.8N 79.2W ABOUT 50 MILES...80 KM...ENE OF PITTSBURGH PENNSYLVANIA. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...45 MPH...72 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 300 DEGREES AT 10 MPH...16 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...988 MB...29.18 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT... STORM WARNINGS REMAIN IN EFFECT OVER PORTIONS OF THE GREAT LAKES. GALE WARNING ARE IN EFFECT ALONG PORTIONS OF THE MID-ATLANTIC AND NORTHEAST COASTS. FLOOD AND COASTAL FLOOD WATCHES...WARNINGS...AND ADVISORIES ARE IN EFFECT OVER PORTIONS OF THE MID-ATLANTIC AND NORTHEAST STATES. BLIZZARD WARNINGS REMAIN IN EFFECT ALONG THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE CENTRAL APPALACHIANS. WINTER STORM WARNINGS AND WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR EXTREME WESTERN MARYLAND AND SOUTHWESTWARD INTO EASTERN TENNESSEE...EASTERN KENTUCKY...AND EXTREME WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. FOR INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV. DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK ------------------------------ AT 0500 PM EDT...2100 UTC...THE CENTER OF SANDY WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 40.8 NORTH...AND LONGITUDE 79.2 WEST. THE POST-TROPICAL CYCLONE WAS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NORTHWEST AT 10 MPH...16 KM/H. SANDY IS EXPECTED TO TURN NORTHWESTWARD ACROSS WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA TONIGHT...AND CONTINUE TO MOVE NORTHWARD INTO CANADA ON WEDNESDAY. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 45 MPH...72 KM/H...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 988 MB...29.18 INCHES. HAZARDS ------- WIND...STRONG WINDS WILL CONTINUE INTO TUESDAY NIGHT OVER PORTIONS OF THE NORTHEAST...CENTRAL/SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS...AND ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES. STORM SURGE...EVEN THOUGH WATER LEVELS ALONG THE COAST HAVE BEEN SUBSIDING...THE COMBINATION OF STORM SURGE AND THE TIDE COULD STILL CAUSE NORMALLY DRY AREAS NEAR THE COAST TO BE FLOODED BY RISING WATERS...ESPECIALLY IN AREAS APPROACHING HIGH TIDE. THE WATER COULD REACH THE FOLLOWING DEPTHS ABOVE GROUND AT THE TIME OF HIGH TIDE... UPPER AND MIDDLE CHESAPEAKE BAY...2 TO 4 FT ELSEWHERE…ELEVATED WATER LEVELS ALONG THE COAST OF NORTH CAROLINA TO MASSACHUSETTS WILL SUBSIDE OVERNIGHT AND ON WEDNESDAY. DUE TO STRONG AND PERSISTENT NORTHERLY WINDS...COASTAL FLOODING ALONG PORTIONS OF THE GREAT LAKES IS POSSIBLE. SURGE-RELATED FLOODING DEPENDS ON THE RELATIVE TIMING OF THE SURGE AND THE TIDAL CYCLE...AND CAN VARY GREATLY OVER SHORT DISTANCES. THE SURGE COULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY LARGE AND DANGEROUS WAVES ALONG PORTIONS OF THE COAST EXPOSED TO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN. FOR INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...PLEASE SEE PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE. RAINFALL...ADDITIONAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF UP TO AN INCH ARE EXPECTED FROM THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES...ACROSS THE MID-ATLANTIC AND INTO SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND. THIS WILL BRING STORM TOTAL PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS OF 6 TO 12 INCHES ACROSS THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION FROM SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY ACROSS DELAWARE...MARYLAND...NORTHERN VIRGINIA AND SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA. ADDITIONAL PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE EXPECTED OVER EASTERN MAINE THROUGH WEDNESDAY. SNOWFALL...ADDITIONAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 5 TO 10 INCHES ARE EXPECTED IN THE MOUNTAINS OF WEST VIRGINIA INTO FAR WESTERN MARYLAND...WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS UP TO 15 INCHES. THIS WILL BRING STORM SNOWFALL TOTALS TO 2 TO 3 FEET OVER PORTIONS OF THE CENTRAL APPALACHIANS...AND 1 TO 2 FEET OVER EASTERN PORTIONS OF KENTUCKY AND THE MOUNTAINS ALONG THE NORTH CAROLINA/TENNESSEE BORDER. SURF...DANGEROUS SURF CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE FROM FLORIDA THROUGH NEW ENGLAND FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. RAINFALL TOTALS --------------- SELECTED STORM TOTAL RAINFALL IN INCHES THROUGH 5 PM EDT ...WASHINGTON DC... WASHINGTON 5.1 NW 5.83 WASHINGTON/NATIONAL 4.78 ...DELAWARE... GEORGETOWN 10.20 DOVER 6.4 WNW 9.62 MILFORD 9.55 INDIAN RIVER ACRES 9.49 REHOBOTH BEACH 9.37 CLAYTON 6.6 W 8.62 DELANEY CORNER 8.33 MILTON 8.30 SMYRNA 2.7 SSE 8.30 SEAFORD 2.3 SSE 8.27 FELTON 3.6 NE 8.00 VIOLA 7.84 GEORGETOWN 5.8 W 7.76 NEWARK 3.9 SSW 7.68 MAGNOLIA 2.4 NW 7.60 DELMAR 4.3 E 7.13 WILMINGTON ARPT 4.34 ...MASSACHUSETTS... EAST MILTON 3.03 LEOMINSTER 1.5 S 2.92 NATICK 1.7 NNE 2.85 NORTON 1.8 NNE 2.80 ACTON 1.3 SW 2.76 MILLIS 0.6 SSE 2.65 NORTHBOROUGH 0.6 SSE 2.60 NORWOOD 1.3 NW 2.59 FITCHBURG 1.6 SSW 2.58 LOWELL 1.9 ENE 2.55 ANDOVER 1.5 W 2.48 BEDFORD/HANSCOM FIELD 2.40 NANTUCKET MEMORIAL ARPT 2.01 ...MARYLAND... EASTON 0.7 NNW 12.55 GREENSBORO 1.4 ENE 10.53 QUEENSTOWN 2.6 S 9.89 TRAPPE 3.5 NE 9.78 BISHOPVILLE 3.1 E 9.48 DENTON 5.8 WSW 9.18 PRINCESS ANNE 4.4 WSW 8.81 PASADENA 2.6 ESE 8.60 PATUXENT RIVER NAS 8.29 LA PLATA 5.8 SE 8.23 SALISBURY RGNL ARPT 7.41 OCEAN CITY MUNI ARPT 7.20 BALIMORE SCIENCE CENTER 7.10 ANNAPOLIS - US NAVAL ACADEMY 7.08 BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON INTL ARPT 6.61 ...NORTH CAROLINA... SALVO 0.9 NNE 8.09 AVON 0.7 NE 8.00 COROLLA 3.2 SSE 7.66 DUCK 0.3 SE 7.22 KILL DEVIL HILLS 2.5 NNW 6.47 HATTERAS/BILLY MITCHELL AP 6.26 COROLLA 11.7 NNW 5.90 KITTY HAWK 4.0 NNW 5.89 TRENT WOODS 1.3 SSE 4.11 JAMESVILLE 6.1 SW 3.84 JACKSONVILLE 2.0 E 3.75 HOLLY RIDGE 4.8 ENE 3.63 ELIZABETH CITY 10.5 NNW 3.56 MERRY HILL 3.8 E 3.51 ...NEW HAMPSHIRE... GORHAM 3.1 S 4.85 CENTER SANDWICH 4.9 E 4.57 RANDOLPH 1.4 NE 4.51 NEWBURY 1.6 NW 4.00 JAFFREY MUNI ARPT 3.83 EFFINGHAM 0.9 NNW 3.35 NEWBURY 4.0 SE 3.07 HILLSBOROUGH 2.1 NNW 3.00 BROOKLINE 2.1 SW 3.00 MADISON 1.7 SE 2.99 GREENVILLE 1.1 ENE 2.96 BROOKFIELD 0.9 WSW 2.91 UNITY 3.2 ENE 2.83 MILFORD 2.7 SE 2.77 NASHUA/BOIRE FIELD 2.62 ...NEW JERSEY... WILDWOOD CREST 0.6 NNE 11.91 NORTH WILDWOOD 10.24 WEST CAPE MAY 9.37 LOWER TWP 2.2 NE 8.41 ERMA 8.20 ATLANTIC CITY 8.15 CAPE MAY 8.10 WOODBINE 0.8 NNW 7.84 UPPER TWP 3.2 SE 7.75 HAMILTON TWP 2.1 SE 7.56 WOODBINE 5.1 NE 7.52 NEWPORT 7.30 CAPE MAY 0.4 NNW 7.28 VINELAND 2.6 WSW 7.07 ESTELL MANOR 7.06 CEDARVILLE 7.00 EGG HARBOR TWP 1.3 NW 6.83 LINWOOD 0.7 SSW 6.82 UPPER DEERFIELD TWP 1.9 E 6.22 ...NEW YORK... SHERMAN 0.4 ENE 3.42 LOCKPORT 2.8 ENE 3.31 NIAGARA FALLS INTL ARPT 3.27 LANCASTER 4.1 ENE 3.26 ELMA CENTER 0.7 SE 3.06 DANSVILLE 1.0 ENE 3.06 LOCKPORT 0.8 NE 3.05 WEST ALMOND 3.6 SW 3.04 LITTLE VALLEY 1.1 N 2.96 KENNEDY 0.3 NE 2.96 PENDLETON 1.4 NE 2.93 ORCHARD PARK 0.5 N 2.90 ...OHIO... KIRTLAND 0.9 SW 5.69 MAYFIELD 0.2 NW 5.10 NORTH RIDGEVILLE 2.8 SSW 5.06 PAINESVILLE 3.8 SSW 5.02 ELYRIA 3.0 SE 4.77 BROADVIEW HEIGHTS 1.5 NW 4.44 ASHTABULA CO. ARPT 4.36 CLEVELAND-HOPKINS INTL ARPT 4.36 AVON 1.6 SW 4.14 BRUNSWICK 0.5 NE 4.08 PARMA 1.9 NNW 3.96 RICHMOND HEIGHTS 0.4 NNE 3.88 LORAIN/ELYRIA 3.85 WAKEMAN 4.6 NNE 3.77 ELYRIA 0.4 SE 3.70 MONTVILLE 1.2 SSE 3.65 ...PENNSYLVANIA... HANOVER 5.4 S 7.61 SCHELLSBURG 2.6 WNW 7.32 GLEN ROCK 2.2 ESE 6.54 MALVERN 0.5 NNE 6.32 LANDENBERG 1.8 ENE 5.96 NEW SALEM 0.3 WSW 5.92 LITTLESTOWN 3.7 WNW 5.84 LATROBE 0.6 NW 5.76 WEST CHESTER 1.8 SE 5.54 HANOVER 3.0 WSW 5.51 ABBOTTSTOWN 2.4 N 5.43 ...RHODE ISLAND... WOONSOCKET 1.3 ESE 1.87 MANVILLE 0.2 NE 1.76 PAWTUCKET/NORTH CENTRAL ST ARPT 1.57 ...VIRGINIA... OCEANA NAS/SOUCEK 9.57 CASHVILLE .01 S 9.38 WHITE STONE 8.0 SSW 8.96 GREENBACKVILLE 0.4 WNW 8.64 PORT HAYWOOD 1.0 SE 8.59 ONLEY 0.6 SE 8.47 WALLOPS ISLAND 8.45 ONANCOCK 3.9 SW 8.39 VIRGINIA BEACH 1.7 NE 7.99 YORKTOWN 0.8 SE 7.73 NEWPORT NEWS 5.8 NE 7.63 ...WEST VIRGINIA... SHENANDOAH JUNCTION 4.46 FALLING WATERS 2.4 NW 4.36 SLANESVILLE 2.1 SE 3.99 MCMECHEN 6.0 E 3.56 MORGANTOWN/HART FIELD 3.17 CHARLES TOWN 2.5 NE 3.15 BUNKER HILL 0.8 WNW 3.06 SPRINGFIELD 2.3 ESE 3.04 BOOTHSVILLE 1.4 SE 2.83 MIDDLEBOURNE 0.3 ENE 2.80 SNOWFALL TOTALS --------------- SELECTED STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL IN INCHES THROUGH 5 PM EDT ..KENTUCKY... PAYNE GAP 14.0 LYNCH 3S 12.0 ELKO 1NW 9.0 BENHAM 3S 6.0 ...MARYLAND... REDHOUSE 29.0 FINZEL 24.0 OAKLAND 24.0 DEEP CREEK LAKE 20.0 ...NORTH CAROLINA... COVE CREEK 10NW 24.0 FAUST 24.0 NEWFOUND GAP 22.0 ELK PARK 14.0 BULADEAN 12.0 BAKERSVILLE 5N 11.0 BEECH MOUNTAIN 1 SE 10.0 ASHLAND 9.0 FLAT SPRINGS 1E 7.0 LANSING 6NW 5.0 CRUSO 3 ESE 5.0 CRESTON 4.0 ...OHIO... BELLEFONTAINE 2N 3.0 ...PENNSYLVANIA... CHAMPION 4SE 13.0 LAUREL SUMMIT 10.0 MOUNT DAVIS 9.0 ...TENNESSEE... GATLINBURG 7SE 22.0 ...VIRGINIA... NORTON 2S 24.0 TAZEWELL 2N 15.0 WISE 6E 14.0 LEBANON 12.0 HONAKER 8.0 CLINTWOOD 2WSW 4.0 BURKES GARDEN 3.0 ...WEST VIRGINIA... DAVIS 28.0 NETTIE 24.0 TERRA ALTA 24.0 BEVERLY 21.0 BAYARD 19.0 BEAVER 18.0 CRAIGSVILLE 17.0 WEBSTER SPINGS 17.0 FAYETTEVILLE 11E 15.0 SHADY SPRING 14.0 MORGANTOWN 3SE 12.0 SNOWSHOE 1S 11.0 CHERRY GROVE 3WSW 10.0 WIND GUSTS ----------- SELECTED PEAK WIND GUSTS IN MILES PER HOUR FROM EARLIER IN THE EVENT ...CONNECTICUT... MADISON 85 BRIDGEPORT AIRPORT 76 GROTON 76 GREENWICH 70 ...MAINE... BATH 76 PORTLAND JETPORT 63 KENNEBUNK 2NE 62 ...MARYLAND... LAYTONSVILLE 1ESE 76 OCEAN CITY 74 ANNAPOLIS 69 ARBUTUS 68 FREDRICK 1NE 62 ...MASSACHUSETTS... CUTTYHUNK 83 WELLFLEET 81 BARNSTABLE 79 WRENTHAM 77 ...MICHIGAN... FORT GRATIOT 74 TOLEDO HARBOR 66 PORT SANILAC 65 SOUTH BASS ISLAND 63 SOUTH HAVEN 1W 60 ...NEW HAMPSHIRE... GOSHEN 70 LONDONDERRY 62 PORTSMOUTH INTL AIRP 60 ...NEW JERSEY... TOMPKINSVILLE 2N 90 SURF CITY 89 TUCKERTON 88 MONTCLAIR 1N 88 NEWPORT 87 SANDY HOOK NOS BUOY 87 DENNISVILLE 81 CLIFTON 80 NEWARK 78 ATLANTIC CITY 77 BAYONNE 1ENE 77 ...NEW YORK... ISLIP 90 PLUM ISLAND 4 ENE 85 SYOSSET 82 POINT LOOKOUT 1E 80 JFK 79 ..OHIO... BURKE LAKEFRONT ARPT 67 CLEVELAND HOPKINS ARPT 63 SOUTH BASS ISLAND 62 ...PENNSYLVANIA... ALLENTOWN 81 BENSALEM 76 BUSHKILL CENTER 70 PHILADELPHIA INTL ARPT 68 MOUNT POCONO AIRPORT 66 MOUNT AETNA 64 WIND GAP 62 ...RHODE ISLAND... WESTERLY 86 WARREN 73 ...VIRGINIA... CHESTER GAP 3NNE 79 WINTERGREEN 4 NW 72 ...WEST VIRGINIA... RANSON 1 NNW 65 KEYSER 2 SSW 64 MARTINSBURG ARPT 60 NEXT ADVISORY ------------- NEXT ADVISORY ISSUED AT 1100 PM EDT. PLEASE REFER TO YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS STORM. GERHARDT/KREKELER/SULLIVANFORECAST POSITIONS ------------------ INITIAL 30/2100Z 40.8N 79.2W POST-TROP/EXTRATROP 12HR VT 31/0600Z 42.1N 80.2W POST-TROP/EXTRATROP 24HR VT 31/1800Z 44.3N 78.6W POST-TROP/EXTRATROP 36HR VT 01/0600Z 47.6N 77.0W POST-TROP/EXTRATROP 48HR VT 01/1800Z 51.8N 77.3W POST-TROP/EXTRATROP 72HR VT 02/1800Z ABSORBEDTROPICAL CYCLONE SANDY WILL MAKE LANDFALL OVER SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY THIS EVENING AS IT INTERACTS WITH A COLD CANADIAN TROUGHOVER THE OHIO VALLEY. SANDY WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN...VERY STRONG WINDS...AND POSSIBLY FLOODING THROUGH TUESDAY.— End Changed Discussion —&&.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM TUESDAY MORNING/...— Changed Discussion —SANDY REMAINS A HURRICANE AS OF THE 2 PM EDT NHC UPDATE...LOCATED 110 MILES SE OF ATLANTIC CITY NJ AND MOVING TO THE NW AT 28 MPH. OTHER KEY PLAYER IS A HI AMPLITUDE NEGATIVELY-TILTED UPR-LVL TROF THAT IS IN THE PROCESS OF PHASING WITH SANDY AS IT CONTINUES ITS EXTRATROPICAL TRANSITION LOSING A WARM-CORE STRUCTURE. LGT TO MODERATE RAIN (WITH POCKETS OF HEAVY RAIN) WILL CONTINUE THRU THE AFTN AND EVENG HRS AS SANDY MOVES ONSHORE. SANDY IS THEN EXPECTED TO SLOW DOWN AND MOVE ALONG THE MD/PA BORDER OVRNGT. AS THE STORM SYSTEM MOVES INLAND...THE SFC LOW WILL ONLY SLOWLY WEAKEN AS YET ANOTHER DISTURBANCE DIGS INTO THE GREAT LAKES REGION TO REINFORCE THE UPR-LVL TROUGH. LOW TEMPS TNGT RANGE FROM THE UPR 30S OVER THE PIEDMONT TO THE MID 40S OVER THE LWR EASTERN SHORE/EXTREME SE VA/NE NC.THE FOLLOWING ARE EXPECTED FORECAST IMPACTS DURING THE NEAR TERM PERIOD:PRECIPITATION/FLOODING POTENTIAL: THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE EVENT WILL BE ACROSS NORTHERN PARTS OF THE FA (STRONGEST FRONTOGENETIC FORCING)...WHERE ANYWHERE FROM AN ADDITIONAL 1-3"+ IS POSSIBLE...UP TO 1-1.5" OVER THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE FA. LIKELY POPS FOR THE NIGHTIME PERIOD OVER NE NC...CATEGORICAL FOR THE REST OF THE FA. DETAILS FOR TUE ARE INCLUDED IN THE SHORT TERM PERIOD DISCUSSION BLO.INCLUDED MENTION OF A CHC FOR LGT SNOW MIXED IN WITH THE RAIN OVER THE PIEDMONT LATE TNGT INTO TUE MRNG. ALTHOUGH NO ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED WITH WARM/WET GROUNDS...(NAM) MODEL THICKNESSES SUPPORT THE POSSIBILITY FOR SOME SNOW MIXED IN...AND SREF CHCS FOR MEASURABLE SNOW ARE AROUND 30-40% THERE.WINDS: AS TROPICAL CYCLONE SANDY MOVES ASHORE THIS EVENG...THE PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL CONTINUE TO TIGHTEN. THIS WILL ALLOW WIND SPEEDS TO QUICKLY INCREASE. HIGH WIND WARNINGS (W/SW WINDS 30-40 MPH W/ GUSTS OF 60+ MPH) AND WIND ADVISORIES (FOR WIND GUSTS OF 45+ MPH) REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF THE FORECAST AREA THROUGH LATE TONIGHT/TUESDAY MORNING. HIGH WIND WARNING ALSO INCLUDES RIC METRO AREA AND REMAINDER OF SW CWA UP TO THE EXISTING WIND ADVISORY. THE STRONGEST WINDS OF THE EVENT FOR THE LOCAL AREA WILL GENLY OCCUR THRU ABOUT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT AS SANDY DEEPENS AS SHE PUSHES NORTH OF VA/NC BORDER. THIS WILL RESULT IN CONSIDERABLE CONTINENTAL POLAR AIR RUSHING IN BEHIND THE SYSTEM, ALLOWING DEEPER MIXING/STEEPER LAPSE RATES ACROSS THE FA. THE LONG DURATION OF STRONG WINDS (OVER 48 HOURS) WILL LIKELY HAVE A LARGER IMPACT ON POTENTIAL POWER OUTAGES THAN IF THE WINDS WERE STRONG FOR A SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME. THIS COULD ALSO AFFECT RETURN TO SERVICE TIMES FOR ANYONE WHO LOSES POWERDURING THIS STORM. ADVISORY MAY NEED TO BE EXTENDED INTO TUESDAY BY LATER SHIFTS ONCE IT BECOMES MORE APPARENT HOW QUICKLY SANDY WILL WEAKEN ONCE IT PUSHES ASHORE.— End Changed Discussion —
Warm Southern Breeze 
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