11PM Weather Analysis: Sandy
By Quincy Vagell on October 28, 2012, 11:00pm Last modified: October 29, 2012, 4:31am
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Shown above, the incredibly intense and unusual storm: Hurricane Sandy.
All of the ingredients continue to come together for what will be a storm that will be remembered for generations.
Overview:
Hurricane Sandy remains a tropical system as it moves northward across the Atlantic Ocean. An approaching frontal system along the East Coast is interacting with Sandy, working to cause snow, rain, strong winds and major flooding.
Hurricane Sandy:
She is still a hurricane with an intense low pressure of 950mb. In fact, the pressure of Sandy is lower than Irene and is almost as low as the Hurricane of 1938.
The storm is beginning to turn towards the left (northwest), but she still has a couple of hundred more miles to pass over the Gulf Stream. This will help keep her a tropical system into at least the first part of Monday. (warm waters fuel tropical systems)
The National Hurricane Center believes the storm will technically no longer be a hurricane as it makes landfall in New Jersey.
A close-up look shows that she is trying to form a better defined "eye."
Frontal system:
Cold air is diving south into the Appalachians, causing intense snowfall in some areas. Blizzard Warnings are in effect and some places could end up with over three feet of snow by the time all is said and done.
Just east of the front is a strong area of convection. From North Carolina to New York, heavy rains and strong winds are already causing major coastal flooding.
Forecast:
A warm front extending north of Sandy will eventually merge with the front to cause one massive low pressure (nor'easter) system.
As this happens, an area of very strong winds will move northward into Long Island overnight and reach Connecticut by Monday morning. At the same time, convective bands of rain will bring some torrential, tropical downpours.
The wind will also force a wall of water up into Long Island, causing progressively more severe storm surges throughtout the day.
Click here for the new 11 p.m. National Hurricane Center update
Watch Sandy via live satellite
Check out the rain bands ahead of Sandy via live radar
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