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Hurricane Sandy's anticipated landfall path. Credits: Courtesy of Jersey Shore Hurricane News
Hurricane Sandy Classified A ‘Very Dangerous Hurricane’ By National Weather Service
Sunday, October 28, 2012 • 11:18pm
SUSSEX COUNTY, NJ – As the skies have grown dark and the wind has picked up, the National Weather Service in Mt. Holly, N.J., has issued updated information about Hurricane Sandy, classifying it as a “very dangerous hurricane.”
The County of Sussex has, in turn, created its own Proclamation of County Emergency, mandating all schools in the county remain closed through Tuesday, with essential personnel only permitted on the roadways.
All county offices will remain closed through Tuesday, and, many municipal offices have also closed for the next couple of days.
The county has also set up an emergency shelter at the Sussex County Technical School in Sparta.
“The takeaway message is that our region is currently in the path of a very dangerous storm,” said Gary Szatkowski of the National Weather Service in Mt. Holly in an issued statement. “Even if the eventual path changes slightly, we will still feel severe effects from this storm.”
Szatkowski tweeted at approximately 8:30 p.m. tonight a buoy 25 miles southeast of Cape May, N.J., is currently experiencing wind gusts of 50 miles per hour, and seas of 19 feet.
“Both will increase overnight,” Szatkowski said. “Center of Sandy still 400 miles away.”
In a separate Tweet to one of his followers, he wrote, “Sorry to say it only gets worse from here. Two more high tide cycles to go. They should be epic.”
“The storm center forecast track is still subject to minor changes, which would change these forecast scenarios, some for the better, some for the worse,” Szatkowski also wrote.
The National Weather Service issued in a forecast around 8 p.m. this evening, Hurricane Sandy is expected to make landfall in New Jersey around Monday evening, and will be hovering offshore prior to that.
From 6 a.m. Monday morning, through 6 p.m. Monday evening, the National Weather Service said, “The main event of this extremely dangerous storm will be kicking into high gear during this time frame.”
A high wind warning remains in effect during this time frame, with “wind driven rain,” and, the storm’s peak expected arrive during Monday afternoon.
Hurricane Sandy is anticipated to have the following characteristics during its duration:
Currently a Category 1 Hurricane, it is expected to remain at that strength, until it comes ashore, and “transitions into an extremely intense nor’easter.”
There is a direct threat to our region as a result.
Wind gusts exceeding 75 miles per hour are expected, as it approaches.
Rain is expected to proceed north from the south, beginning Sunday night, with Monday experiencing the heaviest rain. In the areas of heaviest rain, record river flooding is expected.
Strong winds are forecasted to develop from the coast, move inland, and continue from Sunday night into Tuesday morning.
Gusts over 75 mph are predicted for the coastal areas, and inland, 60 to 75 mph, during the storm’s height.
Click below for previous stories by The Alternative Press on Hurricane Sandy.
Sussex County Prepares For The Possible ‘Perfect Storm’
New Jersey Braces For Hurricane Sandy; What A State Of Emergency Means For Residents
Sussex County Opens Up Emergency Shelter If Needed For Its Residents During Hurricane Sandy
Continue to follow The Alternative Press for coverage on the storm, and The Alternative Press of Sussex County’s Facebook Page for news and information.
