The National Hurricane Center announced on Thursday that Hurricane Sandy, a Category 2 storm, was making its way between the northeast coast of Cuba and the central Bahamas. The hurricane is expected to affect the East Coast of the U.S., the Miami-based center said.
According to the morning report, Sandy is moving north at about 18 mph and is expected to continue in this trajectory for the rest of the day. By tonight and early Friday, the hurricane is expected to make a turn towards the north-northwest with a decrease in forward speed, the NHC stated.
"The center of Sandy will move near or over the central Bahamas later today and tonight and move near or over the northwestern Bahamas on Friday," the Miami-based center said.
Hurricane Sandy has maximum sustained winds of nearly 105 mph, making it a Category 2 storm, but is expected to weaken in the next 48 hours, according to the NHC. Hurricane force winds extend out to 25 miles, the center said, with tropical storm winds reaching out up to 140 miles.
According to the NHC, a hurricane warning is in effect for parts of Cuban and the Bahamas. A tropical storm warning is in effect for Haiti, Florida's east coast from Ocean Reef to Flagler Beach, Lake Okeechobee and the remainder of the southeastern Bahamas not included in the hurricane warning. A tropical storm watch was also issued for Florida's east coast from Flagler Beach north to Fernandina Beach, the Florida Upper Keys from Ocean Reef to Craig Key and Florida Bay.
Sandy is expected to produce rainfall amounts of up to 20 inches in some areas. The NHC reported that the hurricane might produce rainfall between 6 to 12 inches across Haiti, the Dominican Republic and eastern Cuba. Hurricane Sandy is also expected to produce rainfall of up to 3 inches across the Florida Keys.
The NHC warned that storm surge near the coast could cause coastal flooding of up to eight feet in central and northwestern Bahamas, up to seven feet in southeastern Cuba, up to three feet in Jamaica and up to two feet on the Florida coast.
The National Hurricane Center will release the next complete advisory at 11 a.m. ET.
Five-Day Forecast
Wind Speed Possibilities
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