States along the East Coast are bracing themselves for the effects of Hurricane Sandy, as it slowly makes it way up the eastern seaboard. The National Hurricane Center advised that Sandy is "expected to bring life-threatening storm surge flooding to the Mid-Atlantic coast" and that "winds [are] expected to be near hurricane force at landfall," during its 8 a.m. ET advisory.
Hurricane Sandy, a Category 1 storm, is located about 260 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, N.C. and about 395 miles south of New York City, the NHC reported. With maximum sustained winds of nearly 75 mph, Sandy is moving towards the northeast at 10 mph. Sandy is expected to continue on this trajectory throughout the day, with a turn towards the north and later northwest predicted for Monday.
According to the NHC, hurricane-force winds have extended out up to 175 and tropical-storm-force winds have extended out up to 520 miles.
The Miami-based center updated its tropical storm warning to include Cape Fear to Duck, N.C., Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds and Bermuda. It also warned that high wind watches and warnings for hurricane-force winds are in effect for portions of the Mid-Atlantic states and that other watches and warnings are in effect for most of New England.
The Mid-Atlantic states should prepare for gale force winds, which are expected to arrive later Sunday. According to the NHC, "Winds at or near hurricane force could reach the Mid-Atlantic states, including Long Island, by late Monday."
Residents along the eastern coast should also prepare for an extremely dangerous storm surge produced by Sandy, the center said. The NHC reported that flooding could reach up to six feet in different areas between North Carolina and Virginia. Storm surge flooding near the Long Island Sound and Raritan Bay, including New York Harbor, could be as high as 11 feet. The center warned that areas between Maryland and the south shore of Cape Cod could see between five to eight feet of storm surge flooding.
"Given the large wind field associated with Sandy, elevated water levels could span multiple tide cycles resulting in repeated and extended periods of coastal and bayside flooding," the NHC stated.
Hurricane Sandy will also bring massive amounts of rainfall throughout the East Coast, the center warned. Rainfall amounts of four to eight inches are expected over parts of the Mid-Atlantic, with up to 12 inches possible in some areas. According to the NHC, "Rainfall amounts of one to three inches, with isolated maximum amounts of five inches, are possible from the southern tier of New York State northeastward through New England."
The National Hurricane center will release its next hurricane advisory at 11 a.m. ET. Look out for continuous updates from Latinos Post throughout the week.
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