National weather update hurricane sandy

Maximum cloud top heights from the CloudSat overpass are estimated at 7. The brighter colors orange, red and light pinks represent greater intensity of the backscattered radar signal from the satellite. These brighter colors correlate to larger raindrops, heavier precipitation and ice or hail depending on the vertical level. The shades of blues and greens represent smaller amounts water and ice particles that correspond to thinner clouds type cirrus and anvil tops.

A nearly continuous area of light and moderate precipitation stretches across the mid-Atlantic region. Near the surface of these areas of light to moderate precipitation, the radar signal measured by CloudSat isn't as strong due to larger sized water droplets that tend to weaken the strength of the signal.

The CloudSat observations are an excellent tool for determining cloud layers and heights, precipitating cloud structures and other cloud properties.

Part of the CloudSat overpass over the ocean just off the coast of Virginia and North Carolina denoted by blue line reveals small pockets of shallow "closed cell" cumulus clouds less than 1. Closed cell cumulus clouds generally represent more stable atmospheric conditions and occur on the back side of mid-latitude cyclones as is the case with Sandy moving onshore.

Sandy covers 1. Sandy covered 1. Sandy was still a hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 75 mph kph and moving northwest at 18 mph 30 kph. Sandy's minimum central pressure had risen to millibars. The hurricane-force-winds extended 90 miles km east of the center of circulation. Tropical-storm-force winds, however, went much further, as far as miles km. East Coast, and Hurricane Sandy make landfall in N. Sandy's Inland Movement on Oct. EDT, on Oct.

EDT, Sandy continued moving to the west-northwest at 15 knots 24 kph and was located just 15 miles 24 km east of York, Penn. Sandy was centered near Sandy's minimum central pressure continues to rise and was millibars. Sandy's sustained winds were near 65 mph. Tropical-storm-force winds extend almost 1, miles. According to Weather Channel, the winds are going to continue being a problem from the northeast into the Ohio Valley today.

The strongest winds are being experienced now in the Great Lakes Region. Flooding has been reported from Maine to Va. During the morning hours on Oct. The Appalachian Mtns. As much as 26 inches of snow had fallen in Garrett County, Md. According to Reuters news, flooding along the U. East Coast was extensive. Watches and Warnings in Effect on Oct. Storm warnings are in effect for portions of the Mid-Atlantic coastal waters.

Flood and flash flood watches and warnings are in effect over portions of the Mid-Atlantic and northeastern states. The cyclone will move into Canada on Wed. Steady weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours. Far northeastern N. Both areas can see isolated higher totals. Between 1 and 3 inches are possible with up to 5 inches in the southern tier of New York state and northeastward through New England. Snowfall between 2 and 3 feet are expected in the W. Snowfall of 1 to 2 feet in the southwestern Va.

Mountains are expected, and between 12 and 18 inches along the N. Border and in western Md. On Monday, Oct. The National Hurricane Center reported at 11 a.

EDT on Saturday, Oct. At the time of the image Sandy's maximum sustained winds were near 75 mph and Sandy had a minimum pressure of millibars making the storm a Category 1 hurricane. Hurricane Sandy was moving slowly to the northeast at 11 mph almost parallel to the southeast United States coast and directly traversing the Gulf Stream.

CloudSat passed over Sandy just west of the hurricane's inner core. Light to moderate precipitation associated with parts of the outer bands of Hurricane Sandy were moving on shore into parts of North Carolina where CloudSat intersected the system. CloudSat showed heavier showers and thunderstorms further south and east of the Atlantic coastline over the open water.

Sandy Pounding the Mid-Atlantic on Oct. Sandy was moving north-northwest at 18 mph. Maximum sustained winds have increased to 90 mph kph. According to the National Hurricane Center, hurricane-force winds extend outward up to miles km from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to miles km.

Sustained tropical-storm-force winds are occurring along the coasts of southern New Jersey, Delaware, and eastern Virginia, and extend as far inland as the central and southern Chesapeake Bay. The minimum central pressure estimated from hurricane hunter Aircraft data is millibars, which dropped from millibars at 8 a. A drop in atmospheric pressure indicates intensification. NHC noted that surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle and can vary greatly over short distances.

Because of Sandy's large wind field, elevated water levels could span multiple tide cycles resulting in repeated and extended periods of coastal and bayside flooding. Dangerous surf conditions will continue from Florida through New England for the next couple of days. East coast on Monday, Oct. EDT that showed the immense extent of the storm. Tropical Storm force winds extend almost miles from the center making it almost 1, miles in diameter. Other watches and warnings for gale, storm and high winds are in force to the north of the tropical storm warning area and issued by the National Weather Service.

Hurricane local statements have also been issued for those areas under tropical storm warning. NASA's Aqua Satellite Infrared Data Shows Sandy's Strength Infrared satellite imagery provides temperature data to forecasters that identify the cloud heights and strength of different parts of a storm.

Basically, the higher the cloud top is, the colder the temperature, and the stronger the storm. Strongest storms have the potential for the heaviest rainfall rates. The thunderstorms in the purple areas were reaching high into the troposphere where cloud top temperatures are as cold as Fahrenheit Celsius.

Winds from Hurricane Sandy At 11 a. East Coast between Chincoteague, Va. Tropical-storm-force winds are expected north of Chatham to Merrimack River Mass. The National Hurricane Center bulletin on Oct.

EDT, noted that rainfall totals of 3 to 6 inches are expected over far northeastern N. Rainfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches are expected over portions of the Mid-Atlantic States, including the Delmarva Peninsula with isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches possible.

Rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 5 inches are possible from the southern tier of New York state northeastward through New England. Snowfall is another expectation from Sandy as Arctic air sits to the west. Blizzard warnings are posted from western Maryland to southwestern Virginia today.

Snow accumulations of 2 to 3 feet are expected in the mountains of W. Between 1to 2 feet of snow is expected in the mountains of southwestern Va. Border with 12 to 18 inches of snow in the mountains near the N. At p. EDT on Sunday, Oct. The eyewall appeared somewhat compact with its 40 km The eyewall contained only relatively light precipitation, and none of Sandy's eyewall storm cells managed to burst through, or even reach, the tropopause which has about a 10 km 6.

Evidence of the weak updrafts in the eyewall comes from the fact that the TRMM radar's reflectivity stayed under 40 dBZ, a commonly cited signal strength at which updrafts can be vigorous enough to form hail and to lift smaller ice particles up through the tropopause and into the stratosphere.

Most hurricanes only have well-formed and compact eyewalls at category 3 strength or higher. Sandy was not only barely a category 1 hurricane, but Sandy was also experiencing strong wind shear, Sandy was going over ocean typically too cold to form hurricanes, and Sandy had been limping along as a marginal hurricane for several days.

Kelley said, "With infrared satellite observations used in imagery one can speculate about what the sort of convective rising air that form the thunderstorms that make up a tropical cyclone storms are developing under the hurricane's cloud tops, but Sandy was sneaking up the East Coast too far out at sea for land-based radars to provide definitive observations of the rain regions inside of the hurricane's clouds.

The TRMM satellite also showed that the super-sized rainband that extended to the west and north of the center did contain vigorous storm cells, as indicated by the red regions of radar reflectivity in excess of 40 dBZ. This rainband is expected to lash the coast well before the hurricane's center make landfall. Even further west, at the upper left corner of the image, one can see two small storm cells.

These storm cells are the southern-most tip of the independent weather system that is coming across the United States and that is expected to merge and possibly reinvigorate the remnants of Hurricane Sandy after Sandy makes landfall. On Oct. This was about miles east southeast of Washington, D. Sandy was moving north at 15 mph and its winds had increased since Oct. Maximum sustained winds are now near 85 mph. Tropical Storm force winds extend almost miles from the center. Sandy is forecast to make landfall along the southern new jersey coast tonight.

However sandy will severely impact the region well before it comes ashore. Sandy has drawn energy from a cold front to become a huge storm covering a large area of the eastern United States. NASA satellite imagery provided a look at Sandy's 2,mile extent. Hurricane Sandy's reach has grown on satellite imagery, and during the morning of Oct.

Two objectives stand out: move navigation response personnel and assets into position to move quickly once SANDY moves out; and batten down survey vessels, to protect them from storm damage. Coast Survey regularly responds to requests for quick navigation surveys after storms and other damaging events, pulling vessels from their normal survey schedules and deploying them to ports that need hydrographic surveys before they can resume full-fledged shipping.

Skip to content NOAA continues to work in partnership with other federal, state, and local partners in response to the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. Photo by Lt. The MBTA is suspending all service at 2 p. So if you took the train to work today … better leave early or find another way home. We suggest leaving early. All MBTA service will be suspended effective 2pm today. Customers are encouraged to make final MBTA trips as early as possible.

National Grid and NStar both report that outages around Massachusetts have begun, with the number of people affected reaching into the thousands. Both sites have maps that show reported outages so you can check to see if yours has been called in or just find out where the outages have happened. Here we are marooned in Red Hook, Brooklyn!! Sandy twitter. And finally, a helpful reminder, via BostonDotCom , for anyone tempted to think Sandy is just a repeat of the underwhelming Hurricane Irene last year.

Compare the size of the two storms: Posted at a. The Boston area is beginning to see the first effects of Hurricane Sandy Monday morning, though the brunt of its impact is yet to come. The tax filing deadline!

Meanwhile, Gov. Residents can expect the worst of the storm to hit the area with high winds and heavy rain from about noon on Monday to noon on Tuesday, NBC-4 chief meteorologist Doug Kammerer reported on the Saturday 11 p. The hurricane, with winds of 75 miles per hour Sunday morning, was moving northeast at 14 miles per hour along the South Carolina coastline; the center of the storm is expected to hook over to the Mid-Atlantic shoreline between Delaware and New Jersey.

Once the hurricane makes landfall late Monday night or early Tuesday its official name will likely be Post-tropical Cyclone Sandy according to the National Hurricane Center. Tropical storm-force winds extend more than miles from the center of this relatively disorganized hurricane. Dominion Virginia Power says to expect prolonged outages. Bob McDonnell urged families to grab extra blankets to stay warm during possible outages, with temperatures dipping into the 40s this week.

In addition to potential flooding and power outages, a major concern for all state agencies involved in emergency operations is trees coming down, Gov. Bob McDonnell said in a conference call Saturday. Many trees still have most of their leaves, and strong wind and saturated soil mean a strong likelihood of trees uprooting.

The weather service expects the area to see sustained winds of between 35 to 45 miles per hour, and wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour. Northern Virginia is also under a Flood Watch , with expected rain of at least 3 to 6 inches in the area. The Fairfax County Police Department will send its officers and volunteers door to door Sunday morning in flood-prone Huntington just south of Old Town Alexandria to hand out emergency-preparedness flyers.

Metro: Metro is making preparations for the storm and has not announced any changes in service. Trains will move slower if there are sustained winds of 30 to 45 miles per hour for its above-ground trains, so plan for delays.

Amtrak has canceled some of its train service Sunday and Monday to and from the Washington, D. To see a list of cancellations, visit their Service Alerts and Notices site.