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UPDATE October 30, 2012 5 PM EDT: Post Tropical Cyclone Sandy Continues to Weaken Over Pennsylvania


Miami, Florida–(ENEWSPF)–October 30, 2012 – 5 PM EDT

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 5 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.

For a summary of selected storm toal rainfall/snowfall totals and wind gusts, see: www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIAHPCAT3+shtml/302118.shtml

Source: nhc.gov

Related Article:

Department of Energy Hurricane Sandy Situation Report # 5 October 30, 2012 (3:00 PM EDT) 


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