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5 Reasons Why Sandy is Expected to be a Superstorm
A number of factors are conspiring to create a potentially destructive megastorm
A satellite image of Sandy is shown at the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Saturday, Oct. 27.
1. A NORTHBOUND HURRICANE
Hurricane Sandy is moving very slowly toward the north-northeast and is expected to continue its current path parallel to the Carolinas over the weekend, forecasters say. At some point, it's expected to become what's known as an extratropical storm. Unlike a tropical system like a hurricane, which gets its power from warm ocean waters, extratropical systems are driven by temperature contrasts in the atmosphere. At some point, probably Monday, Sandy will begin to turn back toward the coast and eventually make landfall over Delaware or New Jersey.
Although Sandy is currently a hurricane, it's important not to focus too much on its official category or its precise path. It's a massive system that will affect a huge swath of the East Coast, regardless of exactly where it hits or its precise wind speed.
2. EARLY WINTER STORM
Sandy is expected to merge with a wintry system from the west, at which point it will become the powerful superstorm that has forecasters and officials all along the Eastern Seaboard on edge. One of the other systems is an early winter storm from the west - the product of a low pressure system. Winds from that system will pull Sandy back toward the U.S. mainland.
3. ARCTIC AIR FROM THE NORTH
Frigid air coming south from Canada also is expected to collide with Sandy and the wintry storm from the west, creating a megastorm that is expected to park over the northeast for days. Forecasters are expecting residents from Florida to North Carolina to feel the peripheral effects. But the brunt of the storm will hit states farther north once Sandy collides with the winter storm and frigid air. Officials are bracing for the worst: nearly a foot of rain, high winds and up to 2 feet of snow.
4. HIGH TIDES COULD WORSEN FLOODING
Further complicating matters is the possibility for dangerous storm surges: A full moon means the tides will be higher than usual, which will make it easier for the storm's powerful winds to push water into low-lying areas. That, coupled with the threat of several inches of rain, has officials working to shore up flood defenses.
5. COMBO OF SNOW, WIND INCREASES RISK FOR WIDESPREAD POWER OUTAGES
Storms in recent years have left hundreds of thousands of people along the East Coast without power, sometimes for days at a time. Utilities have been bringing in extra crews and lining up tree trimmers so they're prepared, and with good reason. The superstorm brings two possibilities for knocking out electricity. For one, hurricane-force winds of at 74 mph could send tree branches into power lines, or even topple entire trees and power poles. Those left standing could succumb to snow, which could weigh down still-leafy branches enough to also topple trees.
PHOTOS ON SKYE: Epic Storm Photos from the Twittersphere
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22 Comments
Add a few comment from above comments.If Obama cares so much, why did he allow just those few in Libya to go it alone for several hours while being attacked and died. While the drones showed it all and had the assiduity to say they didn't know, but go back a few years and see what Bush did. They all don't care. Get your head out from your a** and see what has been right in front of you for years. Twp parties seeming at war while back at the ranch (nightly real parties go on and they gather in dark rooms to do their dirty deeds) dividing up America one piece at a time Bushes,Clintons,Obama,and to a certain point Roomney.Repeat as said above reach down there and pull your a## out from the dark hole you have been burying it in for these past years.
October 28 2012 at 10:07 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyWell! What can one say except Mother Nature had enough of science, poisoning dumped
October 27 2012 at 11:47 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replyupon her, the living things, including humanity, murdered for greed....so where is our
humility, in these areas, of our frail earth?
So what am I planning to do? Open up a Blacksmith Shop, at least, in my Village
and have Him or Her, fashion a metal backbone for guess who? How about that for
Original thinking and an attempt for a solution. eh?
I am also thinking tonight ,of our American Indians and other Primitives, of what, we
have done to them. We need them now, no?
Also reading the postings.... is it not illusionary to expect the Politicians to care for US,
THE PEOPLE? We, THE PEOPLE, must care for each other and watch those politicians,
like one would a buzzard, especially, after a second term or so. Get real my fellow Americans,
one does not "Love or Hate" Politicians...get them "in" and OUT...quickly...after first or
second term...get it?
AH! We have such a great history and literature for such a young Nation! Too bad, we know
not and so much entrenched in lies...that corrode like an acid.
If I sound eccentric, well...so be it...but there is nothing better out there then our type
of government, as our Founder's set it up...except maybe a good King, who usually
has an idiot son.
If I may suggest, we take 3/4th's of the Baby Boomers and turn them over to FEMA,
for whatever, dust ourselves off...and start all over again!
I see so much going on with our young, I like it but OMG...what a journey...but yet,
such strife builds character...of which, we lost to a fakery of intelligence, of which,
cannot be measured.
One can never let a catastrophe go to waste. Especially in an election season. Count on Virginia and New Hampshire getting extra aid, regardless of whether they need it or not.
October 27 2012 at 6:45 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replyafter the damage is done how many,"stop government spending" people will have their hand out.
October 27 2012 at 6:12 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyAll of them.
October 27 2012 at 6:38 PM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down ReplyOur hearts and prayers go out to the 99.5% of Americans who are not blowing snot bubbles on the rest of us. Those 1%ers who have no humility will meet something they can not wave dollars at to go away.
October 27 2012 at 5:53 PM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down ReplyBlow west dear storm.
Quick ,to the Mommiemobile . We must confiscate all the Milk ,White Bread , And toilet Paper !
October 27 2012 at 4:41 PM Report abuse Permalink -2 rate up rate down ReplyMeanwhile ,back at the Ranch of excessive vulgarity ,I shall shed no tears for the Elite of Manhattan when their Hamptons hideaways get washed out to sea.
October 27 2012 at 4:38 PM Report abuse Permalink -5 rate up rate down ReplyTake that Ralph Lifshitz of the Bronx, AKA Lauren .
babby-butt...... my daughter lives in Manhattan and she is NOT rich. She is in dangers path and I do not appreciate your comment!
October 27 2012 at 6:13 PM Report abuse Permalink +3 rate up rate down ReplyKind of like The Day After Tomorrow. Obama will take care of business while R&R do their self-serving campaigning...Game over.
October 27 2012 at 2:42 PM Report abuse Permalink -10 rate up rate down Replykeep supplies on hand its going to be big one.....
October 27 2012 at 1:53 PM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down Replyit may be as bad as forecast, but we will be told it's the worst because of its proximity to the media capitol [is the liza or Sinatra version playing in the background] of the planet [and in their minds, the universe], with that mild distraction called a presidential election, the media does not need another big story, and let it not be said that the media turned down a story it could proudly exploit...
October 27 2012 at 12:40 PM Report abuse Permalink +3 rate up rate down Reply