More Snow

It seems we are beginning to make up for the lack of snow last winter.  A small system is moving up the Ohio river valley from Texas bringing some light snow to the area.  Predictions are for 3-5 inches (7-12 cm) of snow between 10pm tonight and 6am Saturday morning.  Already, we've had more snow this winter than in all of last winter.  A typical winter snow total for this area is about 24-30 inches (60-75 cm) I believe.  We've had winters though where that number is doubled.

Southern Side of Storm

The storm that brought heavy snow and wind to the Ohio Valley also brought strong storms and tornadoes to the deep south.  Here is a link to a video showing a tornado striking a Walgreens Drug Store on Christmas night 2012 in Mobile, Alabama.

Blizzard? Not a Blizzard

Snow cornice formed by wind.

The "Blizzard of 2012" is what I've heard two TV news stations in Indianapolis call the most recent snowstorm that hit early this morning.  There was some wind and there was a good amount of snow, but calling it a blizzard seemed excessive for what actually occurred.  Originally, the blizzard warning issued by the National Weather Service was set to expire at 7pm December 26.  However, the warning was replaced with a Winter Weather Advisory by mid afternoon when conditions no longer met blizzard criteria (if they ever did).  A blizzard is defined as a storm in which the following persist for at least three hours; winds frequently gusting to or sustained at 35mph (56kph) and blowing snow reducing visibility to 1/4 mile (400m) or less.

 Moving on, with the recent storm I estimate that 9" (23cm) of snow fell between 12am and 3pm.  The liquid precipitation  measurement came in at 0.88" (22mm).  Had the temperature been lower the snow would have been much drier and therefore we may have had higher snow totals.  


It's interesting to see how the wind can shape the snow during these storms.  I know none of the pictures included in this post are anything special, but it is neat to see.  The second picture shows where the wind swirling around the deck planter scoured out the snow around it leaving nearly two feet of snow on either side.  The last pictures shows how the wind has plastered the south side of the garage with snow even though the wind was coming from the north.
Below is a 1 minute time lapse video I made of the storm from 6:30am to 9:30am.  You can see how strong the winds were.

Twas the Night After Christmas

 ...and all through the house, no one was sleeping cause there was freakin' blizzard coming! Yeah! Snowstorms are great. They change the landscape in ways no other weather event can. The cornices of snow and drifts created by the wind are so incredibly unique that nothing else compares.

 Well, tomorrow (Wednesday, December 26) should be a day where Mother Nature gets to create some of her unique sculptures. A blizzard warning has been issued for a large portion of Central Indiana. The southeastern section of the state should see the heaviest snowfall totals with up to 15 inches (38cm) possible. Winds are expected to gust to 40mph (65kph) or more through the day Wednesday. The larger map in this post shows where the snowfall totals will line up across the state. The smaller map shows where blizzard warnings are in effect across the Midwest (shaded in red).

 I've kept track of weather events in this area for over 20 years now and I cannot remember the last time blizzard warnings were issued for such a large area across Indiana. Blizzards are much more common further west across the Plains states, but not so much here. It will be interesting to see how this storm turns out. 

Many people are traveling this week with the Christmas holiday and may be staying with relatives. Earlier today I heard a meteorologist on TV tell viewers that if you enjoyed the company of your relatives make plans for them to stay with you through Thursday. If you did not enjoy the company of your relatives, you should send them home tonight before the storm hits. :-) I thought that was hilarious. Well, the house is quiet and I can hear the wind picking up speed outside. No snow yet (12:16am), but I'm sure that by morning that will change. I'll post pictures and maybe some video tomorrow. No plans to go anywhere though so it will all be from the warm comfort of home. Hopefully, the power doesn't go out. :-|

Sandy's Aftermath

New York City was the bull’s-eye for Sandy, a record-breaking, 14-foot storm surge that flooded Ground Zero, the subway, and several of the major tunnels connecting Manhattan to Brooklyn and New Jersey, and exploded a transformer that cut power to much of downtown. Fires, massive flooding, and falling trees have wreaked havoc from Maryland, New Jersey and Queens up to Connecticut, with the damage incurred anticipated to cost close to $20 billion, and having claimed 30 lives as of 2 p.m. this afternoon.  Follow this link for photos from the area.  Click Here

But in West Virginia’s Appalachian Mountains, the storm brought temps hovering around freezing and wet snow. Snowfall totals were measured in feet across the state.  The heavy and wet snow caused significant damage to trees and power lines.  Davis, West Virginia was one of the hardest hit areas.  The video below is from Davis.

Initial Rain/Snowfall Totals from Sandy

POST-TROPICAL CYCLONE SANDY ADVISORY NUMBER 34...CORRECTED
NWS HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL PREDICTION CENTER COLLEGE PARK MD AL182012
0500 PM EDT TUE OCT 30 2012

CORRECTED FOR NEXT ISSUANCE TIME.

...POST-TROPICAL CYCLONE SANDY CONTINUES TO WEAKEN OVER
PENNSYLVANIA...

SUMMARY OF 0500 PM EDT...2100 UTC...INFORMATION
-----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...40.8N 79.2W
ABOUT 50 MILES...80 KM...ENE OF PITTSBURGH PENNSYLVANIA.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...45 MPH...72 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 300 DEGREES AT 10 MPH...16 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...988 MB...29.18 INCHES


WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT...

STORM WARNINGS REMAIN IN EFFECT OVER PORTIONS OF THE GREAT LAKES. 
GALE WARNING ARE IN EFFECT ALONG PORTIONS OF THE MID-ATLANTIC AND
NORTHEAST COASTS.

FLOOD AND COASTAL FLOOD WATCHES...WARNINGS...AND ADVISORIES ARE IN
EFFECT OVER PORTIONS OF THE MID-ATLANTIC AND NORTHEAST STATES.

BLIZZARD WARNINGS REMAIN IN EFFECT ALONG THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF
THE CENTRAL APPALACHIANS.  WINTER STORM WARNINGS AND WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORIES REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR EXTREME WESTERN MARYLAND
AND SOUTHWESTWARD INTO EASTERN TENNESSEE...EASTERN KENTUCKY...AND
EXTREME WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA.  

FOR INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE WATCHES
AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV.


DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
------------------------------
AT 0500 PM EDT...2100 UTC...THE CENTER OF SANDY WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 40.8 NORTH...AND LONGITUDE 79.2 WEST. THE POST-TROPICAL
CYCLONE WAS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NORTHWEST AT 10 MPH...16 KM/H. 
SANDY IS EXPECTED TO TURN NORTHWESTWARD ACROSS WESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA TONIGHT...AND CONTINUE TO MOVE NORTHWARD INTO CANADA
ON WEDNESDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 45 MPH...72 KM/H...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS.

MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 988 MB...29.18 INCHES.


HAZARDS
-------
WIND...STRONG WINDS WILL CONTINUE INTO TUESDAY NIGHT OVER PORTIONS
OF THE NORTHEAST...CENTRAL/SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS...AND ACROSS THE
GREAT LAKES.

STORM SURGE...EVEN THOUGH WATER LEVELS ALONG THE COAST HAVE BEEN
SUBSIDING...THE COMBINATION OF STORM SURGE AND THE TIDE COULD
STILL CAUSE NORMALLY DRY AREAS NEAR THE COAST TO BE FLOODED BY
RISING WATERS...ESPECIALLY IN AREAS APPROACHING HIGH TIDE.  THE
WATER COULD REACH THE FOLLOWING DEPTHS ABOVE GROUND AT THE TIME OF
HIGH TIDE...

UPPER AND MIDDLE CHESAPEAKE BAY...2 TO 4 FT

ELSEWHERE…ELEVATED WATER LEVELS ALONG THE COAST OF NORTH
CAROLINA TO MASSACHUSETTS WILL SUBSIDE OVERNIGHT AND ON WEDNESDAY.
 DUE TO STRONG AND PERSISTENT NORTHERLY WINDS...COASTAL FLOODING
ALONG PORTIONS OF THE GREAT LAKES IS POSSIBLE.

SURGE-RELATED FLOODING DEPENDS ON THE RELATIVE TIMING OF THE SURGE
AND THE TIDAL CYCLE...AND CAN VARY GREATLY OVER SHORT DISTANCES.
THE SURGE COULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY LARGE AND DANGEROUS WAVES ALONG
PORTIONS OF THE COAST EXPOSED TO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.  FOR
INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...PLEASE SEE PRODUCTS ISSUED BY
YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE.

RAINFALL...ADDITIONAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF UP TO AN INCH ARE
EXPECTED FROM THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES...ACROSS THE MID-ATLANTIC
AND INTO SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND. THIS WILL BRING STORM TOTAL
PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS OF 6 TO 12 INCHES ACROSS THE MID-ATLANTIC
REGION FROM SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY ACROSS 
DELAWARE...MARYLAND...NORTHERN VIRGINIA AND SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA.
 ADDITIONAL PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE EXPECTED
OVER EASTERN MAINE THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

SNOWFALL...ADDITIONAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 5 TO 10 INCHES ARE
EXPECTED IN THE MOUNTAINS OF WEST VIRGINIA INTO FAR WESTERN
MARYLAND...WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS UP TO 15 INCHES.  THIS WILL BRING
STORM SNOWFALL TOTALS TO 2 TO 3 FEET OVER PORTIONS OF THE CENTRAL
APPALACHIANS...AND 1 TO 2 FEET OVER EASTERN PORTIONS OF KENTUCKY
AND THE MOUNTAINS ALONG THE NORTH CAROLINA/TENNESSEE BORDER.

SURF...DANGEROUS SURF CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE FROM FLORIDA
THROUGH NEW ENGLAND FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.


RAINFALL TOTALS
---------------
SELECTED STORM TOTAL RAINFALL IN INCHES THROUGH 5 PM EDT

...WASHINGTON DC...
WASHINGTON 5.1 NW                    5.83
WASHINGTON/NATIONAL                  4.78                     

...DELAWARE...
GEORGETOWN                          10.20
DOVER 6.4 WNW                        9.62
MILFORD                              9.55
INDIAN RIVER ACRES                   9.49
REHOBOTH BEACH                       9.37       
CLAYTON 6.6 W                        8.62
DELANEY CORNER                       8.33
MILTON                               8.30            
SMYRNA 2.7 SSE                       8.30                     
SEAFORD 2.3 SSE                      8.27                     
FELTON 3.6 NE                        8.00
VIOLA                                7.84                   
GEORGETOWN 5.8 W                     7.76                     
NEWARK 3.9 SSW                       7.68                     
MAGNOLIA 2.4 NW                      7.60                     
DELMAR 4.3 E                         7.13
WILMINGTON ARPT                      4.34                     

...MASSACHUSETTS...
EAST MILTON                          3.03
LEOMINSTER 1.5 S                     2.92                     
NATICK 1.7 NNE                       2.85                     
NORTON 1.8 NNE                       2.80                     
ACTON 1.3 SW                         2.76                     
MILLIS 0.6 SSE                       2.65                     
NORTHBOROUGH 0.6 SSE                 2.60                     
NORWOOD 1.3 NW                       2.59
FITCHBURG 1.6 SSW                    2.58                     
LOWELL 1.9 ENE                       2.55                     
ANDOVER 1.5 W                        2.48
BEDFORD/HANSCOM FIELD                2.40                         
           
NANTUCKET MEMORIAL ARPT              2.01                         
                

...MARYLAND...
EASTON 0.7 NNW                      12.55                     
GREENSBORO 1.4 ENE                  10.53                     
QUEENSTOWN 2.6 S                     9.89                     
TRAPPE 3.5 NE                        9.78                     
BISHOPVILLE 3.1 E                    9.48                     
DENTON 5.8 WSW                       9.18                     
PRINCESS ANNE 4.4 WSW                8.81                     
PASADENA 2.6 ESE                     8.60
PATUXENT RIVER NAS                   8.29                     
LA PLATA 5.8 SE                      8.23
SALISBURY RGNL ARPT                  7.41
OCEAN CITY MUNI ARPT                 7.20
BALIMORE SCIENCE CENTER              7.10
ANNAPOLIS - US NAVAL ACADEMY         7.08                       
BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON INTL ARPT       6.61

...NORTH CAROLINA...
SALVO 0.9 NNE                        8.09                     
AVON 0.7 NE                          8.00                     
COROLLA 3.2 SSE                      7.66                     
DUCK 0.3 SE                          7.22                     
KILL DEVIL HILLS 2.5 NNW             6.47
HATTERAS/BILLY MITCHELL AP           6.26                      
COROLLA 11.7 NNW                     5.90                     
KITTY HAWK 4.0 NNW                   5.89                     
TRENT WOODS 1.3 SSE                  4.11                     
JAMESVILLE 6.1 SW                    3.84                     
JACKSONVILLE 2.0 E                   3.75                     
HOLLY RIDGE 4.8 ENE                  3.63                     
ELIZABETH CITY 10.5 NNW              3.56                     
MERRY HILL 3.8 E                     3.51
                                      
...NEW HAMPSHIRE...
GORHAM 3.1 S                         4.85                     
CENTER SANDWICH 4.9 E                4.57                     
RANDOLPH 1.4 NE                      4.51                     
NEWBURY 1.6 NW                       4.00
JAFFREY MUNI ARPT                    3.83                     
EFFINGHAM 0.9 NNW                    3.35                     
NEWBURY 4.0 SE                       3.07                     
HILLSBOROUGH 2.1 NNW                 3.00                     
BROOKLINE 2.1 SW                     3.00                     
MADISON 1.7 SE                       2.99                     
GREENVILLE 1.1 ENE                   2.96                     
BROOKFIELD 0.9 WSW                   2.91                     
UNITY 3.2 ENE                        2.83                     
MILFORD 2.7 SE                       2.77                     
NASHUA/BOIRE FIELD                   2.62
                    
...NEW JERSEY...
WILDWOOD CREST 0.6 NNE              11.91
NORTH WILDWOOD                      10.24
WEST CAPE MAY                        9.37                     
LOWER TWP 2.2 NE                     8.41
ERMA                                 8.20
ATLANTIC CITY                        8.15
CAPE MAY                             8.10       
WOODBINE 0.8 NNW                     7.84                     
UPPER TWP 3.2 SE                     7.75                     
HAMILTON TWP 2.1 SE                  7.56                     
WOODBINE 5.1 NE                      7.52
NEWPORT                              7.30                     
CAPE MAY 0.4 NNW                     7.28                     
VINELAND 2.6 WSW                     7.07
ESTELL MANOR                         7.06
CEDARVILLE                           7.00                    
EGG HARBOR TWP 1.3 NW                6.83                     
LINWOOD 0.7 SSW                      6.82                     
UPPER DEERFIELD TWP 1.9 E            6.22                     
                    
...NEW YORK...
SHERMAN 0.4 ENE                      3.42                     
LOCKPORT 2.8 ENE                     3.31
NIAGARA FALLS INTL ARPT              3.27                     
LANCASTER 4.1 ENE                    3.26                     
ELMA CENTER 0.7 SE                   3.06                     
DANSVILLE 1.0 ENE                    3.06                     
LOCKPORT 0.8 NE                      3.05                     
WEST ALMOND 3.6 SW                   3.04                    
LITTLE VALLEY 1.1 N                  2.96                     
KENNEDY 0.3 NE                       2.96                     
PENDLETON 1.4 NE                     2.93                     
ORCHARD PARK 0.5 N                   2.90                         
                

...OHIO...
KIRTLAND 0.9 SW                      5.69                     
MAYFIELD 0.2 NW                      5.10                     
NORTH RIDGEVILLE 2.8 SSW             5.06                     
PAINESVILLE 3.8 SSW                  5.02                     
ELYRIA 3.0 SE                        4.77                     
BROADVIEW HEIGHTS 1.5 NW             4.44
ASHTABULA CO. ARPT                   4.36
CLEVELAND-HOPKINS INTL ARPT          4.36                  
AVON 1.6 SW                          4.14                     
BRUNSWICK 0.5 NE                     4.08                    
PARMA 1.9 NNW                        3.96                     
RICHMOND HEIGHTS 0.4 NNE             3.88
LORAIN/ELYRIA                        3.85                  
WAKEMAN 4.6 NNE                      3.77                     
ELYRIA 0.4 SE                        3.70                     
MONTVILLE 1.2 SSE                    3.65
                     
...PENNSYLVANIA...
HANOVER 5.4 S                        7.61                     
SCHELLSBURG 2.6 WNW                  7.32                     
GLEN ROCK 2.2 ESE                    6.54                     
MALVERN 0.5 NNE                      6.32                     
LANDENBERG 1.8 ENE                   5.96                     
NEW SALEM 0.3 WSW                    5.92                     
LITTLESTOWN 3.7 WNW                  5.84                     
LATROBE 0.6 NW                       5.76                     
WEST CHESTER 1.8 SE                  5.54                     
HANOVER 3.0 WSW                      5.51                     
ABBOTTSTOWN 2.4 N                    5.43
                                          
...RHODE ISLAND...
WOONSOCKET 1.3 ESE                   1.87
MANVILLE 0.2 NE                      1.76
PAWTUCKET/NORTH CENTRAL ST ARPT      1.57                    

...VIRGINIA...
OCEANA NAS/SOUCEK                    9.57
CASHVILLE .01 S                      9.38                     
WHITE STONE 8.0 SSW                  8.96                     
GREENBACKVILLE 0.4 WNW               8.64                     
PORT HAYWOOD 1.0 SE                  8.59                     
ONLEY 0.6 SE                         8.47
WALLOPS ISLAND                       8.45                     
ONANCOCK 3.9 SW                      8.39                     
VIRGINIA BEACH 1.7 NE                7.99                     
YORKTOWN 0.8 SE                      7.73                     
NEWPORT NEWS 5.8 NE                  7.63
                                          
...WEST VIRGINIA...
SHENANDOAH JUNCTION                  4.46                     
FALLING WATERS 2.4 NW                4.36                     
SLANESVILLE 2.1 SE                   3.99                     
MCMECHEN 6.0 E                       3.56                     
MORGANTOWN/HART FIELD                3.17                     
CHARLES TOWN 2.5 NE                  3.15                     
BUNKER HILL 0.8 WNW                  3.06                     
SPRINGFIELD 2.3 ESE                  3.04                     
BOOTHSVILLE 1.4 SE                   2.83                     
MIDDLEBOURNE 0.3 ENE                 2.80
                                          

SNOWFALL TOTALS
---------------
SELECTED STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL IN INCHES THROUGH 5 PM EDT

..KENTUCKY...
PAYNE GAP                            14.0
LYNCH 3S                             12.0
ELKO 1NW                              9.0
BENHAM 3S                             6.0

...MARYLAND...
REDHOUSE                             29.0
FINZEL                               24.0
OAKLAND                              24.0
DEEP CREEK LAKE                      20.0

...NORTH CAROLINA...
COVE CREEK 10NW                      24.0
FAUST                                24.0
NEWFOUND GAP                         22.0
ELK PARK                             14.0
BULADEAN                             12.0
BAKERSVILLE 5N                       11.0
BEECH MOUNTAIN 1 SE                  10.0
ASHLAND                               9.0
FLAT SPRINGS 1E                       7.0
LANSING 6NW                           5.0
CRUSO 3 ESE                           5.0
CRESTON                               4.0 

...OHIO...
BELLEFONTAINE 2N                      3.0

...PENNSYLVANIA...
CHAMPION 4SE                         13.0
LAUREL SUMMIT                        10.0
MOUNT DAVIS                           9.0

...TENNESSEE...
GATLINBURG 7SE                       22.0      

...VIRGINIA...
NORTON 2S                            24.0
TAZEWELL 2N                          15.0
WISE 6E                              14.0
LEBANON                              12.0
HONAKER                               8.0
CLINTWOOD 2WSW                        4.0
BURKES GARDEN                         3.0

...WEST VIRGINIA...
DAVIS                                28.0
NETTIE                               24.0
TERRA ALTA                           24.0
BEVERLY                              21.0
BAYARD                               19.0
BEAVER                               18.0
CRAIGSVILLE                          17.0
WEBSTER SPINGS                       17.0
FAYETTEVILLE 11E                     15.0
SHADY SPRING                         14.0
MORGANTOWN 3SE                       12.0
SNOWSHOE 1S                          11.0
CHERRY GROVE 3WSW                    10.0


WIND GUSTS
-----------
SELECTED PEAK WIND GUSTS IN MILES PER HOUR FROM EARLIER IN THE
EVENT

...CONNECTICUT...
MADISON                                85
BRIDGEPORT AIRPORT                     76
GROTON                                 76
GREENWICH                              70

...MAINE...
BATH                                   76
PORTLAND JETPORT                       63
KENNEBUNK 2NE                          62

...MARYLAND...
LAYTONSVILLE 1ESE                      76
OCEAN CITY                             74
ANNAPOLIS                              69
ARBUTUS                                68
FREDRICK 1NE                           62

...MASSACHUSETTS...
CUTTYHUNK                              83
WELLFLEET                              81
BARNSTABLE                             79
WRENTHAM                               77

...MICHIGAN...
FORT GRATIOT                           74
TOLEDO HARBOR                          66
PORT SANILAC                           65
SOUTH BASS ISLAND                      63
SOUTH HAVEN 1W                         60                  

...NEW HAMPSHIRE...
GOSHEN                                 70
LONDONDERRY                            62
PORTSMOUTH INTL AIRP                   60

...NEW JERSEY...
TOMPKINSVILLE 2N                       90
SURF CITY                              89
TUCKERTON                              88
MONTCLAIR 1N                           88
NEWPORT                                87
SANDY HOOK NOS BUOY                    87
DENNISVILLE                            81
CLIFTON                                80
NEWARK                                 78 
ATLANTIC CITY                          77
BAYONNE 1ENE                           77

...NEW YORK...
ISLIP                                  90
PLUM ISLAND 4 ENE                      85
SYOSSET                                82
POINT LOOKOUT 1E                       80
JFK                                    79

..OHIO...
BURKE LAKEFRONT ARPT                   67
CLEVELAND HOPKINS ARPT                 63
SOUTH BASS ISLAND                      62

...PENNSYLVANIA...
ALLENTOWN                              81
BENSALEM                               76
BUSHKILL CENTER                        70
PHILADELPHIA INTL ARPT                 68
MOUNT POCONO AIRPORT                   66
MOUNT AETNA                            64
WIND GAP                               62

...RHODE ISLAND...
WESTERLY                               86
WARREN                                 73

...VIRGINIA...
CHESTER GAP 3NNE                       79
WINTERGREEN 4 NW                       72

...WEST VIRGINIA...
RANSON 1 NNW                           65
KEYSER 2 SSW                           64
MARTINSBURG ARPT                       60


NEXT ADVISORY
-------------
NEXT ADVISORY ISSUED AT 1100 PM EDT. PLEASE REFER TO YOUR LOCAL
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS
STORM.

Here Comes Sandy A.K.A. Frankenstorm

I hate it when the media grabs a hold of a storm and gives it a name like "Snowmageddon" or "Frankenstorm".  Yes, the storm heading for the east coast is a big one, but it already has a name... Sandy.  So let's stick with this storm's given name shall we?

Okay, so hurricane Sandy is moving north along the east coast of the United States and is expected to make landfall along the south Jersey shore (insert your own joke here) late Monday night.  The storm will hit the coast with a punch.  According the the National Weather Service, "...SANDY EXPECTED TO BRING LIFE-THREATENING STORM SURGE FLOODING TO THE MID-ATLANTIC COAST...INCLUDING LONG ISLAND SOUND AND NEW YORK HARBOR... ...WILL BRING COASTAL HURRICANE WINDS AND HEAVY APPALACHIAN SNOWS..."  





This is a historic storm that the likes of have not been seen in a hundred years.  The storm will effect an enormous section of the east coast.  Just look at all of the warnings and watches posted by the NWS.  Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Indiana, Ohio, Maryland, New Jersey, Washington DC, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Rhode Island, New York Connecticut, Massachusetts  Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and Michigan will all feel the effect of this storm.  The mountains of West Virginia, Eastern Kentucky, and Western North Carolina are already under a blizzard warning where they could see up to 2 feet (61cm) of snow and white out blizzard conditions due to the winds gusting over 50mph (80kph).   The coastal regions will see hurricane force winds of 75mph (120kph) or greater with a storm surge expected to push far inland.  Flooding will threaten both life and property.  The winds will be felt far to the west too as wind advisories have been posted all the way back to Indiana with gusts up to 50mph (80kph) possible at times.  This will be a cold wind too.  The circulation around the low will pull down the coldest air of the fall season so far with daytime highs here at home struggling to reach 45F (7C) on Tuesday and Wednesday.  We may even see a few snow showers.
So batten down the hatches and bring in the lawn furniture cause it's going to get breezy.