Lop Notes: Preparations for Hurricane Sandy

Although the forecast may change between now and Monday, it appears that (based on the current National Weather Service projection) Hurricane Sandy will come ashore in New Jersey, with effects extending well into the New England region.

Here is the current NWS 5-Day Forecast Cone for Hurricane Irene:

For the latest advisories from the National Hurricane Center, please visit:

National Hurricane Center: Hurricane Sandy

The National Weather Service reports that, at 11:00 AM, the center of Hurricane Sandy was located near latitude 32.8 north…longitude 71.9 west. Sandy is moving toward the northeast at close to 14 miles per hour.

Sandy is a category one hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 150 miles from the center, and 50 nautical mile per hour winds extend outward up to 200 miles. The wind field continues to expand.

National Weather Service offices responsible for this region (or portions thereof):

National Weather Service: Weather Forecast Office, Caribou, ME

National Weather Service: Weather Forecast Office, Gray/Portland, ME

National Weather Service: Weather Forecast Office, Taunton/Boston, MA

National Weather Service: Weather Forecast Office, Burlington, VT

National Weather Service: Weather Forecast Office, Albany, NY

National Weather Service: Weather Forecast Office, Upton/New York City, NY

Media reports:

CT: Cities, towns hunker down amid warnings of an epic storm (Connecticut Post)

CT: Evacuations Underway As State Braces For Widespread Power Outages, Damage (Hartford Courant)

CT: Malloy warns residents: Prepare for worst flooding in 70 years and widespread,long-lasting power outages (New Haven Register)

CT/RI: NL, OL, Stonington and Westerly issue mandatory evacuations; massive storm surge expected (The Day)