U.S. East coast prepares for ‘super storm’ as hurricane Sandy intensifies: 41 deaths linked to storm
Posted on October 27, 2012
October 27, 2012 – CLIMATE – Tropical
cyclone Sandy revved back up to hurricane strength on Saturday as it
churned toward the U.S. northeast coast where it threatens to become one
of the worst storms in decades. The late-season storm has been dubbed
“Frankenstorm” by some weather watchers because it will combine elements
of a tropical cyclone and a winter storm and is forecast to reach the
U.S. coast close to Halloween. Forecast models show it will have all the
ingredients to morph into a so-called “super storm.” Governors in
states along the U.S. East Coast declared emergencies on Friday, with
officials urging residents to stock up on food, water and batteries. The
U.S. Navy ordered all ships in the Norfolk, Virginia, area, including a
nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, out to sea to ride out the
approaching storm. “We’re expecting a large, large storm,” said Louis
Uccellini, director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration’s Center for Environmental Prediction. “The circulation
of this storm as it approaches the coast could cover about the eastern
third of the United States.” Sandy battered the Bahamas southeast of
Florida on Friday after causing widespread destruction in eastern Cuba a
day earlier. The storm was expected to crawl northward on Saturday and
Sunday and then turn toward the U.S. coast. Sandy’s powerful winds and
rains were blamed for 41 deaths in several Caribbean countries,
including 11 in Cuba. Most were killed by falling trees and building
collapses. On its current projected track, Sandy could make U.S.
landfall on Monday night or Tuesday somewhere between North Carolina and
southern New England, forecasters said. The storm has the potential to
cause widespread power outages and to unleash flooding and even dump
snow as far inland as Ohio. It also threatens to disrupt air travel
along the U.S. East Coast. At 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT), Sandy was about 335
miles southeast of Charleston, South Carolina, and packing top
sustained winds of 75 miles per hour, the U.S. National Hurricane
Center. It had earlier dropped just below hurricane strength but little
overall change on strength was expected ahead of its anticipated U.S.
landfall early next week, the Miami-based Hurricane Center said. The
storm picked up a little forward speed overnight but was still moving
slowly over the Atlantic at 10 mph. The massive storm has continued to
grow in size with tropical force winds extending 450 miles from its
center, government forecasters said. In New York City, officials were
considering shutting down the country’s largest mass transit system
because they were worried the storm’s impact could cause flooding or
high winds that might endanger subways and buses. Much of Florida’s
northeast coast was under a tropical storm warning and storm warnings
and watches extended up the coast through most of South Carolina and
North Carolina. Along North Carolina’s Outer Banks, which jut out into
the Atlantic, vacationers in large camper trailers and motor homes
streamed off the barrier islands. Many forecasters are warning that
Sandy could be more destructive than last year’s Hurricane Irene, which
caused billions of dollars in damage across the U.S. Northeast. –Reuters
Thanks to: http://theextinctionprotocol.wordpress.com
Posted on October 27, 2012
October 27, 2012 – CLIMATE – Tropical
cyclone Sandy revved back up to hurricane strength on Saturday as it
churned toward the U.S. northeast coast where it threatens to become one
of the worst storms in decades. The late-season storm has been dubbed
“Frankenstorm” by some weather watchers because it will combine elements
of a tropical cyclone and a winter storm and is forecast to reach the
U.S. coast close to Halloween. Forecast models show it will have all the
ingredients to morph into a so-called “super storm.” Governors in
states along the U.S. East Coast declared emergencies on Friday, with
officials urging residents to stock up on food, water and batteries. The
U.S. Navy ordered all ships in the Norfolk, Virginia, area, including a
nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, out to sea to ride out the
approaching storm. “We’re expecting a large, large storm,” said Louis
Uccellini, director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration’s Center for Environmental Prediction. “The circulation
of this storm as it approaches the coast could cover about the eastern
third of the United States.” Sandy battered the Bahamas southeast of
Florida on Friday after causing widespread destruction in eastern Cuba a
day earlier. The storm was expected to crawl northward on Saturday and
Sunday and then turn toward the U.S. coast. Sandy’s powerful winds and
rains were blamed for 41 deaths in several Caribbean countries,
including 11 in Cuba. Most were killed by falling trees and building
collapses. On its current projected track, Sandy could make U.S.
landfall on Monday night or Tuesday somewhere between North Carolina and
southern New England, forecasters said. The storm has the potential to
cause widespread power outages and to unleash flooding and even dump
snow as far inland as Ohio. It also threatens to disrupt air travel
along the U.S. East Coast. At 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT), Sandy was about 335
miles southeast of Charleston, South Carolina, and packing top
sustained winds of 75 miles per hour, the U.S. National Hurricane
Center. It had earlier dropped just below hurricane strength but little
overall change on strength was expected ahead of its anticipated U.S.
landfall early next week, the Miami-based Hurricane Center said. The
storm picked up a little forward speed overnight but was still moving
slowly over the Atlantic at 10 mph. The massive storm has continued to
grow in size with tropical force winds extending 450 miles from its
center, government forecasters said. In New York City, officials were
considering shutting down the country’s largest mass transit system
because they were worried the storm’s impact could cause flooding or
high winds that might endanger subways and buses. Much of Florida’s
northeast coast was under a tropical storm warning and storm warnings
and watches extended up the coast through most of South Carolina and
North Carolina. Along North Carolina’s Outer Banks, which jut out into
the Atlantic, vacationers in large camper trailers and motor homes
streamed off the barrier islands. Many forecasters are warning that
Sandy could be more destructive than last year’s Hurricane Irene, which
caused billions of dollars in damage across the U.S. Northeast. –Reuters
Thanks to: http://theextinctionprotocol.wordpress.com