|
Event Information:
Hurricane Sandy is a late season
tropical cyclone that is impacting
Jamaica, Cuba, The Bahamas, Haiti
and Florida and the
United States East Coast and Canada.
The eighteenth tropical cyclone,
eighteenth named storm, and tenth
hurricane of the Atlantic
hurricane season, Sandy developed
from an elongated tropical wave in
the western Caribbean Sea on October
22. It quickly strengthened after
becoming a tropical depression and
was upgraded to Tropical Storm Sandy
six hours later. Sandy moved slowly
northward toward the Greater
Antilles and gradually strengthened.
On October 24, Sandy was upgraded to
a hurricane, shortly before making
landfall in Jamaica. Upon moving
further north, Sandy reentered water
and made its second landfall in Cuba
during the early morning hours on
the next day, October 25 as a
Category 2. In the Caribbean, at
least 15 people were killed.
A
tropical wave was moving westward through the
eastern Caribbean Sea on October 19. It had an
extended low pressure area, and conditions were
expected to gradually become more favorable for
development. On October 20, the system became better
organized, and the National Hurricane Center (NHC)
assessed a high potential for it to become a
tropical cyclone within 48 hours. By the next day,
the associated convection, or thunderstorms, had
become minimal, although barometric pressure in the
area remained low, which favored development. The
thunderstorms gradually increased, while the system
slowed and became nearly stationary over the western
Caribbean. At 1500 UTC on October 22, the NHC
initiated advisories on Tropical Depression Eighteen
about 320 mi (515 km) south of Kingston, Jamaica.
This was based on surface observations and satellite
imagery, which indicated the system had developed
enough organized convection to be classified.
Much of the U.S. East Coast in the Mid-Atlantic and
New England states have a good chance of receiving
gale-force winds, flooding, heavy rain and maybe
even snow early next week by an unusual hybrid of
Hurricane Sandy and a winter storm. Government
weather forecasters said there is a 90% chance (the
chance having increased from 60% on October 24),
that the East Coast will be impacted by the storm
(with some media outlets already referring to the
expected combination of the tropical system and
storm front under the nickname "Frankenstorm").
Utilities and governments along the East Coast are
attempting to head off long-term power failures as a
result of Sandy. Power companies from the Southeast
to New England are alerting independent contractors
to be ready to assist to fix storm damaged equipment
quickly and are asking employees to cancel vacations
and work longer hours. Baltimore Gas and Electric
Co. is putting workers on standby and making plans
to bring in crews from other states. In New Jersey,
where the storm is expected to come ashore, Jersey
Central Power & Light has told employees to be
prepared for extended shifts.
On
October 28, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo declared
a state of emergency for every county in the state.
He also asked for a pre-disaster declaration to
better access federal assistance. Nassau County
Executive Ed Mangano ordered voluntary evacuations
of the South Shore storm surge area, which includes
the area south of Sunrise Highway and north of Route
25A and in elevations 15 feet above sea level or
less on the North Shore. Shelters were opened at
Nassau Community College, Levittown Memorial High
School, Locust Valley High School, and SUNY Old
Westbury. In Suffolk County, mandatory evacuations
were ordered for residents of Fire Island and in
surge zone areas in Babylon, Islip, Brookhaven,
Riverhead, Southampton, and Southold. Shelters were
opened at Hampton Bays High School, Sachem East High
School, and the Brentwood High School Sonderling
Building.[78] Most all schools closed in Nassau and
Suffolk counties on October 29, including Nassau
Community College, Molloy College, Hofstra
University and Adelphi University. On October 28,
President Obama signed an emergency declaration for
the state of New York. The Metro-North Railroad and
the Long Island Rail Road suspended service
beginning 7 p.m. October 27 through October 29 and
possibly October 30. Starbucks closed all of its
outlets in the city and Long Island on October 28 at
4 p.m. to let employees get home before the transit
system shut down. The stores will remain closed on
October 29.
Live Tracking Hurricane Sandy
NY Times Webcam
Webcams in areas potentially
affected by Hurricane Sandy:
Local
Weather:
|
