The biggest issue with the impending storm will be the wind. Tropical storm force winds may gust between 60 and 70 miles an hour Monday into Tuesday. Naturally, power outages will be more than likely, considering what happened last year during Tropical Storm Irene and the October Nor'easter. Coastal communities need to take extra precautions due to the strong Southeast wind and astronomically high tides due to the Full Moon.
The Full Hunter's Moon happens this Monday at 3:50 p.m. EDT. The tide will be high at Bridgeport harbor Sunday at 11:21 p.m., Monday at 11:33 a.m., Monday night at 11:59 p.m., and Tuesday at 11:33 a.m. The tides are forecast to crest at 6.88 feet Sunday night, 7.59' Monday midday, and 6.81' Monday night. However, expect much higher tides due to the Full Moon and the tropical storm force winds. Coastal flooding and beach erosion are more than likely.
As of 8 o'clock this morning, Sandy was a category one hurricane with 80 mile-an-hour winds, located about 480 miles South-Southeast of Charleston, South Carolina. It's moving Northeast at 10 miles an hour, and the central pressure is 28.64 inches. Here is the projected forecast map for Hurricane Sandy.
There are several things you can do to prepare for such a storm. First, make sure your roof gutters and storm drains are cleared of any leaves, dirt, or debris. They're bound to be clogged this time of the year due to the falling leaves. If you have a sump pump or pumps in your basement, test them before the storm hits. Have flashlights, batteries, bottled water, and canned food in case the power is out for an extended period of time. Also, make sure your car and generator --- if you have one --- are full of gas. You don't want to have an empty tank during a severe storm. Let's hope for the best.
Paul
