National Hurricane Center: Hurricane Sandy Path Will Bring 74 MPH Winds To U.S [Map]
In preparation for Hurricane Sandy that is said to reach the United States in the coming days, the National Hurricane Center has issued tropical storm warnings for Florida's East Coast, adding that Sandy can bring sustained (1-minute average) surface wind speeds "equal to or exceeding 64 kt...74 mph (hurricane force)."
A map posted on the official website of the NHC show Hurricane Sandy shadowing over the East Coast of the United States along Floida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and New York. The center said on Thursday at 2 p.m. EST that hurricane Sandy was expected to reach the northwestern Bahamas Thursday night and Friday and tropical storm conditions were expected to reach the East Coast of Florida later today and spread northward through Friday.
Wind speed probability graphics are based on the official NHC's track, intensity and wind radii forecasts.
Forecasters have stated that Sandy is expected to collide with a winter storm in the West and arctic chills from the North before it reaches the East Coast on Sunday, stretching into the midweek. Hurricane Sandy will bring gusty winds, heavy rain, flooding and even snow early next week, forecasters predict.
Sandy made its way across eastern Cuba on Thursday as a potential Category 2 storm and caused at least two deaths in the Caribbean, according to Fox News.
Hurricane season in the Atlantic begins June 1 and ends Nov. 30. The Eastern Pacific hurricane season begins May 15 and also ends Nov. 30th.
At 8 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 26, the NHC said that Hurricane Sandy was near Greath Abaco Island, which lies in the northern Bahamas. It's present movement is at 10 mph but it is likely to pick up speed as the day goes on. The current location of Sandy by the Bahamas and also about 480 miles southeast of Charleston, S.C., the NHC added.
Tropical storm warning is in effect for central Bahamas, Florida's East Coast from Ocean Reef to Flager Beach, Lake Okeechobee and the Andros Island. Tropical storm watch is in effect for the Savannah River to Oregon Inlet, N.C., and several parts of Florida. Click here for more details.
