Significant Storm Now looks Likely!

10.26.12
11:30 pm

Sandy is beginning to transition to a hybrid or ex-tropical system but is also about to undergo explosive strengthening. Most tropical systems begin to weaken when they lose their tropical characteristics. The    opposite will occur in this scenario. A very strong arctic/polar jet stream is going to dig underneath Sandy ventilating the system over very warm waters off the east coast and allow the system to really deepen rapidly. The pressure currently is 969 mb, I expect the pressure in Sandy to bottom out around 945 mb. The National Hurricane Center will probably keep the system named Hurricane Sandy but she is really a very large and dangerous nor'easter now.

I want to be clear, this is a life-threatening storm for the mid-atlantic and northeast. This could be a once and a lifetime storm for them. North Carolina will see significant impacts but this is NOT... going to be a Historic storm for the Tar-heel State but it can still cause property damage and loss of life if not taken seriously. So please be prepared!

My current track (please keep in mind that this is a MASSIVE system so it will have far reaching affects):

Forecasted SUSTAINED Wind Speeds (expect higher gust):

Forecasted Snowfall:

Forecasted impacts for North Carolina:

Mountains: 

• Snow- could be heavy with significant accumulations of 4" or more possible (Sunday night- Tuesday night)
• Winds- 30-50 mph gusts to 65 mph
•  Possible Tree Damage and the "potential" for widespread power outages

Foothills and Piedmont: 

• Mostly dry, few showers or rain squalls
• Winds- 25-35 mph gusts to 50 mph
•  Possible Tree Damage (mostly large branches) and isolated power outages

Coastal Areas: 

• Heavy rain and squalls, flooding possible
• Winds - 45-55 mph gusts to 70 mph
• Breaking waves- 12-18' northern outer banks, 20' Hatteras Island, 8-12' Wilmington area.
• Tree Damage likely, roof shingle damage, widespread power outages, significant coastal          flooding and erosion

I will try to update again tomorrow evening or Sunday with more details on potential impacts to the region. -Kris