HURRICANE SANDY – 2PM UPDATE – 10/26/12

Hurricane Sandy is located just 30 miles north-northeast of Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas at mid-afternoon, moving north at 7 mph. Sandy should turn toward the north-northeast with an increase in forward speed on Saturday, then northeast on Sunday, bringing the center away from the Bahamas.
Maximum sustained winds are 75 mph – a Category One hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. No significant change is strength is expected during the next few days.
A Tropical Storm Warning continues for Great Abaco and Grand Bahama Islands, and the east coast of Florida from Deerfield Beach to Flagler Beach, including Lake Okeechobee. A Tropical Storm Watch continues along the southeast U.S. coast from the Savannah River north to Oregon Inlet (North Carolina). Those along the remainder of the U.S. east coast should monitor the progress of this hurricane.
Remember- do not focus on the details of the exact track forecast late in forecast period, as Sandy is expected to impact a large area of the U.S. East coast early next week.
A storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 3 to 5 feet in the hurricane warning area of the Bahamas, and 1 to 3 feet along the Florida east coast in the warning area.
Total rainfall amounts of 3 to 6 inches, with isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches, are expected over portions of the Bahamas. Amounts of 1 to 3 inches are possible across the Florida Keys into southeast and east-central Florida. Amounts of 4 to 8 inches are possible over far eastern North Carolina.
Get the latest on this tropical cyclone, including forecasts and
graphics, on the NOAA NHC website at www.hurricanes.gov