Hurricane forecasters are saying Hurricane Sandy has all the ingredients for a perfect storm– a storm reminiscent to Hurricane Grace in 1991. The storm was so epic, it inspired a movie called The Perfect Storm.
“The storm is a mix of Hurricane Sandy, now in the Caribbean as a Category 1 storm, as well as an early winter storm in the West and a blast of arctic air from the North. They’re predicted to collide and park over the country’s most populous coastal corridor and reach as far inland as Ohio,” CBS reported.
At 5:00 a.m. this morning, Hurricane Sandy was approximately 300 miles off the shore of Florida. The storm is moving 13 mph and is expected to impact Florida today.
Business and residents along the east coast are preparing for the storm’s impact, though as with most hurricanes and tropical storms, Hurricane Sandy’s projected path could shift at any time.
However, Bob Smerbeck, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather.com, says that regardless of where Sandy lands, the entire East Coast will feel the storm’s impact. Once the storm hits shore, it’s expected to be downgraded to a tropical storm but it will “have the same effects as a nor’easter, even worse,” Smerbeck adds. “We are looking at total devastation – tremendous power outages, flooding, a storm surge. And someone is going to get several feet of tree-snapping snow.”
The storm is expected to dump 6+ inches of rain along the East Coast and winds are expected to reach 80 mph.
Pilot Flying J sent out a press release informing drivers that Pilot Flying J locations across the east coast are preparing fo the storm’s impact.
[box title=”Pilot Flying J Locations Taking Hurricane Precautions ” color=”#333333″]*Pilot #255 Milford, CT *Pilot #222 Sturbridge, MA *Pilot #150 Hagerstown, MD *Pilot #179 Hagerstown, MD *Pilot #290 Perryville, MD *Pilot #688 Carney’s Point, MD *Pilot #784 North East, MD *Pilot #058 Pleasant Hill, NC * Pilot #190 Hampton, NJ *Pilot #210 Mahwah, NJ *Pilot #253 Carney’s Point, NJ *Pilot #280 Bloomsburg, NJ *Flying J #752 Winchester, VA *Flying J #749 Ruther Glen, VA *Pilot #384 Richmond, VA *Pilot #159 Tallysville, VA *Pilot #491 Harrisonburg, VA[/box]
Drivers, if you will be traveling along the east coast over the next week, please take necessary precautions. Travel with extra supplies and keep an eye on the forecast. Stay safe out there, drivers.
Stay tuned to CDL Life for up-to-date weather information.