Home Town Weather – Hurricane Central

Hurricane Sandy will be one of the most talked about storms for years as it massively damaged a good portion of the famous Jersey shore. In addition, massive damage is also evident in New York along with inland areas as well. I am a native of New Jersey and I was born and raised in that state. I can remember many times over the years where water would come over the barriers and dunes during severe storms and it would cause flooding in many cases. What happened here this month was totally different from anything that has happened here before. I even remember a few times when the pier at Seaside had to be repaired due to storm damage. Back in the early days of the boardwalk, I can remember several times when fire destroyed parts of the boardwalk in Point Pleasant. That was when they used the old boards that were soaked in a preservative that had a distinctive smell when you walked along the boardwalk. Improvements in materials over the years have the boardwalks burning a bit less likely but nothing can stop the power of a major storm surge, nothing.

Hurricane Sandy officially made landfall at Atlantic City. The system made a jog to the north just before landfall and hit with the lowest pressure ever recorded in Atlantic City.  The pressure at landfall was a staggering 946mb.

Here is the last official hurricane statement from the NHC since Sandy is now post tropical.

POST-TROPICAL CYCLONE SANDY DISCUSSION NUMBER  31
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL       AL182012
1100 PM EDT MON OCT 29 2012

Hurricane Sandy, now post-tropical storm Sandy, has slammed into the East Coast of the US. The Water rise at Battery Park in New York is a staggering 14.8 feet. Water is rushing into subway stations and the reports that Wall Street trading floor was flooded we found was not true. The Daily News is also under water. There are also reports of water getting into the Brooklyn Battery  Tunnel.

Hurricane Sandy is expected to make landfall near Cape May NJ at around 6 PM tonight. Winds remain at 90 MPH as the system races towards the coast.

Massive storm surge and wind will cause severe flooding and damage along the entire Jersey Shore.

Do not venture from your safe space. Stay in place until the storm passes.

Hurricane Sandy is gearing up to be the storm of the century. Both the winds and the pressures have dropped. Although not all that great a presentation on satellite, NOAA aircraft have found winds at the surface at 85 MPH and more  strengthening  is forecast. This is unprecedented in a north east hurricane this time of year. Part of the reason is the fact that the system is not a full tropical system. It is going to be fed and maintained by a thing called baroclinic forcing. This is going to be the driving force of this system once the  transition  from tropical to extra-tropical takes place. I cannot stress enough that you need to be ready. Once the storm hits, rescue will not be able to help you. If you are trapped in a low lying area and the water begins to rise around you nobody will be able to get to you till after the storm.

Hurricane Sandy is getting ready to make her final move towards the New Jersey Coast. Life  threatening  storm surge, winds and rain are expected. Storm surges could be the  highest ever recorded in history. Please, if you are in an evacuation area, get OUT! Listen to the authorities and do what they tell you. Time is almost out. Remember, once the storm begins and water starts to rise around you, nobody is going to be able to rescue you. This is how so many people died in Katrina.  Take action immediately as this situation is a matter of life and death.

If you have friends or relatives in the north east, please pass this along….

Hurricane Sandy is still a hurricane as of 11 PM. NOAA aircraft has found some interesting things inside this storm. It still has a warm core but the flight level winds are less then the winds on the ground. This indicates that the transformation is taking place as expected. There is no change in the track or the intensity of the storm at landfall in the northeast. This is going to be a destructive storm. People should be preparing now.

Hurricane Sandy is now being influenced by wind shear and dry air. The intensity is still holding at 80 MPH. The system has slowed down and is moving to the north west at 6 MPH. The cyclone is now almost due east of West Palm approaching the northern Bahamas Islands. This will cause at least slight weakening. Thereafter, the shear is going to relax and Sandy will be in parts of the Gulf Stream as it approaches the coast. This warm water will help fuel and potentially strengthen as it moves into the region. Keep in mind that it does not matter if the system is part tropical or not, the impacts are going to be the same. tens of millions may be without power. If you live or know anybody in this region, make sure they do not take this lightly.

Hurricane Sandy continues to chrn in the Atlantic. The system is set to pass about 200 miles to the east of Florida where tropical storm warnings are in effect. The inmpacts here are going to be extremly small in comparison to what could happen in the northeast. This system is going to change into an extremly rare hybrid storm. This system is going to have a core like that of a hurricane but an outer structure like a nor’ easter.Essentially, the hurricane or tropical system will be embedded within a shell of a nor’ easter.