Hurricane Sandy Expected To Bring Wind Gusts Up To 80 mph On South Coast
BOSTON (CBS) – Hurricane Sandy is bearing down on the East Coast with maximum sustained winds at 85 mph Monday morning.
Gallery: Latest Sandy Forecast Maps
It's currently moving north at 15 mph and the pressure has dropped to 946 mb, that tells us that the storm is getting stronger and more organized. It's about 1,000 miles wide, making it the largest tropical storm ever in the Atlantic Ocean.
The outer bands are producing heavy rain in New Jersey and New York City.
Check: Tracking Maps | Interactive Radar | Current Conditions | Forecast Maps
It's expected to make landfall on the central or southern New Jersey coastline Monday evening into the early overnight hours, probably between 8 a.m. and midnight. It could still be a category one hurricane at that point, but most likely it will be downgraded to a tropical storm.
The wind gusts have picked up in the Boston area, up to 40 mph this morning.
A high wind warning is in effect until 6 a.m. Tuesday. Widespread power outages are possible and could last for days with downed trees and power lines.
Winds are expected to pick up Monday afternoon and evening with tropical storm force gusts as high as 60 mph across Massachusetts and up to 80 mph along the South Coast and Cape and Islands, which would be hurricane-force gusts.
There are serious concerns along the South Coast, where major coastal flooding is expected with a storm surge of three-to-six feet.
High tides there are at 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Monday.
Along east facing beaches in Massachusetts, high tides will be at noon and midnight.
The estimated rainfall totals across southern New England range from one-to-three inches, with the most coming in central Massachusetts and higher elevations.
- 1.65 inches in Boston
- 3.05 inches in Fitchburg
- 1.95 inches in Worcester
- 1.05 inches in New Bedford
- 1.25 inches in Chatham
Looking ahead, you can expect gradually improving conditions all day Tuesday.
There may some showers on Halloween, but there will be dry periods as well.
The end of the week is expected to be quiet with temperatures in the 50's.
