The worst of the storm is expected to be Monday through Tuesday, but the storm's aftermath may linger days later. Conditions will begin to deteriorate in our area Sunday and Sunday night.
Storm surge flooding will occur over a much larger area, when compared to a hurricane and more severe than a typical nor'easter. Sandy has the potential to bring historic storm surge flooding near and north of the center. It is possible our area will experience some of the worst coastal flooding on record, depending on exactly where the storm tracks. If these predictions hold true, we will see yet another instance of the "bay meeting the bay" on Cross Bay Boulevard.
Meteorologists are expecting a storm surge of 5 to 10 feet, but locally higher levels are possible near and just north of the storm track. The full moon of Monday, Oct 29th will add to high tide levels spanning the 28th through the 30th.
Sandy will not be your typical hurricane when it moves in from the southeast. Hurricanes are small and compact. Sandy will be more like a large nor'easter on steroids. It could have the strength of a Category 1 hurricane. Tropical storm and hurricane-force wind gusts will extend out hundreds of miles from the center.
The storm surge tide that accompanied Tropical Storm Irene in August of last year, although high, dissipated relatively quickly as the storm passed our area moving north without making landfall.
Surge tide flooding from Sandy will be similar, if not worse than Irene's, and will continue for a much more protracted period of time as the storm approaches the coast and makes landfall to the south of New York.
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