Tides and Bore Tides: Against the Current
In a few places on Earth, local geography and tidal conditions align to cause a phenomenon called a tidal bore: An incoming high tide collides with the outgoing tide in a narrow channel, generating a turbulent wave front. The shape and size of a bore tide varies greatly, from gentle undulations to a powerful single wave rolling over any obstacle in its path. China's Qiantang River claims the highest bore, up to 9 meters (30 ft) high. In other places, such as Alaska's Turnagain Arm, Brazil's Amazon River, and the River Severn in the UK, surfers paddle out and try to catch the bore tides for a quick trip upstream. [27 photos] Use j/k keys or ←/→ to navigate Choose: 1024px 1280px A crowd of Chinese tourists run away as a tidal bore breaks over a wall along the Qiangtang River in Haining, Zhejiang province, China, on on August 31, 2011. Visitors gathered to experience the Qianjiang Tidal Bore, an annual tradition for the residents living nearby.(STR/AFP/Getty Images) A remote controlled helicopter hovers over the Qiantang River as tourists gather on the river bank to see the soaring tide in Haining, Zhejiang province, on September 13, 2011. (Reuters/Stringer) # A tidal wave hits a bank along the Qiantang River on August 22, 2013 in Haining, China.(ChinaFotoPress/ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images) # Spectators flee as waves created by a tidal bore crash over a barrier on the Qiantang river at Hangzhou, in east China's Zhejiang province, on August 31, 2011. (AP Photo) # A crowd of Chinese tourists run away as a tidal bore breaks over a wall along the Qiangtang River in Haining, China, on August 31, 2011. (STR/AFP/Getty Images) # Policemen and residents run as waves from a tidal bore surge past a barrier on the banks of Qiantang River in Haining, China, on August 31, 2011. As Typhoon Nanmadol approached eastern China, the tides and waves in Qiantang River recorded their highest level in 10 years, local media reported. (Reuters/China Daily) # A crowd of Chinese tourists run away as a tidal bore breaks through the dam by the Qiangtang River in Haining, east China's Zhejiang province on August 31, 2011. About 20 people were injured when they were caught too close to the river while viewing the annual tidal bore, which occurs when sea water from an unusually high tide funnels into the river, creating high waves.(STR/AFP/Getty Images) # South of Anchorage, Alaska, the biggest bore tide of the summer roared into Turnagain Arm on June 5, 2012. Here, a kayaker awaits the bore tide to ride it. (AP Photo/Ron Barta) # A kayaker rides the biggest bore tide of the summer as it roared into Turnagain Arm south of Anchorage, Alaska, on June 5, 2012.(AP Photo/Ron Barta) # Brazilian surfer Savio Carneiro celebrates as catches the thunderous "Pororoca" tidal bore wave during the national pororoca circuit final on the Mearim River, some 30 km inland, in the Amazon jungle near the northern Brazilian city of Arari, on April 19, 2003. The term "Pororoca" comes from the Amazonian indigenous term meaning "destroyer, great blast." The feared and thunderous waves have capsized boats and washed away most anything in its path. (Reuters/Sergio Moraes) # Surfers Adilton Mariano and Rodrigo Resende ride the Pororoca wave in the Araguari river in northern Brazil, on May 18, 2003.(AP Photo/Enrico Marone) # Villagers ride the Pororoca wave in a canoe as it passes near their town of Sao Domingos do Capim, northern Brazil, on March 12, 2001. (AP Photo/Paulo Santos) # Brazilian surfer Rogerio Dantas jumps into the Mearim River to catch the thunderous Pororoca tidal bore wave, near the northern Brazilian city of Arari, on April 17, 2003. (Reuters/Sergio Moraes) # A surfer rides the Pororoca tidal bore on the Amazon river near Caviana island in Marajo, Brazil, on June 17, 2011.(Reuters/Paulo Santos) # A boat fails to escape a Pororoca wave on Brazil's Mearim River, on April 6, 2004. (Reuters/Bruno Domingos) # Brazilian surfers rides the Pororoca wave on the Mearim River, near Arari, Brazil, on April 8, 2004. (Reuters/Bruno Domingos) # A view of the Severn Bore, sweeping down the river Severn between Stonebench and Minsterworth, in Gloucestershire, England, on September 3, 1936. At times the waves reached a height of 20 feet. (AP Photo) # Surfers ride the Severn Bore near Newnham along the River Severn on March 2, 2010 in Gloucestershire, England. Surfers from around the world flocked to ride the Severn bore, a natural tidal phenomenon that pushes a 4ft wave up the Severn Estuary in Gloucestershire. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images) # Surfers enjoy the Severn Bore near Newnham along the River Severn on March 2, 2010 in Gloucestershire, England.(Matt Cardy/Getty Images) # Surfers round a corner on the Severn Bore along the River Severn on March 2, 2010 in Gloucestershire, England.(Matt Cardy/Getty Images) # The incoming spring tide on the River Severn in Gloucestershire, on March 2, 2010. Original here.(CC BY ND Flickr user PapaPiper) # A tidal wave hits a bank along the Qiantang River on August 22, 2013 in Haining, China. Typhoon Trami landed in Fujian province earlier and led to higher-than-normal tides, gales and heavy rainfalls in east China.(ChinaFotoPress/ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images) # Visitors run away as waves from a tidal bore surge past a barrier on the banks of Qiantang River, in Hangzhou Zhejiang province, on August 24, 2013. (Reuters/Stringer) # Visitors run away from a tidal bore wave as it surges over a barrier on the banks of Qiantang River, in Hangzhou Zhejiang province, on August 25, 2013. (Reuters/Stringer) # People struggle as waves from a tidal bore pour over a barrier on the banks of Qiantang River in Haining, China, on August 22, 2013. As Typhoon Trami landed in eastern China, tidal level in the Qiantang River was recorded at 6.6 meters high with a surge reaching 1.3 meter high, local media reported. (Reuters/China Daily) # People struggle as water from a tidal bore wave surged over a barrier on the banks of Qiantang River in Haining, China, on August 22, 2013. (Reuters/China Daily) # Spectators get to their feet, after being swept down a hill by huge waves while watching tides of Qiantang River on August 22, 2013 in Haining, China. | People were warned to prepare for the worst on Sunday as Hurricane Sandy threatened winds of up to 100mph and surge flooding. Officials told residents to head for higher ground as evacuations were ordered on the East Coast including a mandatory one for New York City which saw 375,000 people leave low-lying areas. The National Weather Service issued a stark warning to residents along the New Jersey coast where the hurricane is predicted to make landfall on Monday night. A statement read: 'If you are reluctant [to evacuate], think about your loved ones...think about the rescue/recovery teams who will rescue you if you are injured or recover your remains if you do not survive.' Scroll down for latest video
New York prepares: Tourists pose on the sandbags in front of the Statue of Liberty
Leaving the city: A woman and her dog leave lower Manhattan on Sunday night as New Yorkers braced for the impact of Hurricane Sandy
Ominous: A man watches the ferocious waves on Sunday in Berlin, Maryland
The skies above New York begin to look ominous as the first signs of the approaching megastorm form The warning from the Mount Holly weather service described the storm as 'extremely dangerous' and urged residents to exercise caution. The storm is more than 700 miles wide, could bring up to ten inches of rain and cause widespread power outages. President Obama warned that Sandy was a 'serious and big storm' and forecasters said it could be the largest ever to hit the United States. The New York subway closed at 7pm for only the second time in history, buses were no longer running and flights in and out of the city cancelled. The New York Stock Exchange will close its trading floor on Monday because it is located in a mandatory evacuation zone but continue to trade electronically. NYSE Euronext said on Sunday it is putting in place contingency plans and will announce later when the trading floor will reopen. VIDEO: President Obama warns: 'This is a big and serious storm' President Barack Obama: 'This is a serious and big storm'
Deserted: Sand whips up along the beach in Atlantic City, New Jersey where the storm was expected to make landfall on Monday night
Lying in wait: Sandbags line the entrance of a building as people walk by near the Hudson River water front in New Jersey on Sunday night
Protecting the assets: New York Stock Exchange workers place sand bags in front of doors and over electrical vaults at the exchange
Catching a wave? A man with a surfboard and another commuter waits for one of the last subway trains in Manhattan today
Isolated: Rain falls on a nearly deserted road ahead of Hurricane Sandy in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Protection: A woman arrives at an evacuation center in New York City this evening as hundreds of thousands of residents were told to evacuate by the Mayor Trading has rarely stopped for weather. A blizzard led to a late start and an early close on January 8, 1996. The NYSE shut down on March 27, 1985 for Hurricane Gloria. Since the Great Depression, the longest suspension in trading at the NYSE occurred after 9/11 when the exchange closed for four days. The sheer size of the storm meant its effects would be felt from the mid-Atlantic states to New England. Officials issued warnings meant to reduce the risk of mass casualties as the National Guard was deployed to New York City.
Thrill-seekers: A mother and daughter stand on the beach in Maryland and take in the storm
On its way: A car plows through a flooded street in Norfolk, Virginia after the impact of Hurricane Sandy
Con Edison workers use sandbags to cover up power vaults in New York as they prepare for Hurricane Sandy which could be the biggest storm to hit the United States mainland when it hits on Monday
Get out now: Residents in the evacuation zones on the fringes of New York City start to leave their homes
A maintenance worker attaches plywood to a sidewalk grate at the 2 Broadway building of Lower Manhattan in New York on Sunday in anticipation of the arrival of the megastorm Mayor Bloomberg ordered the mandatory evacuations of 375,000 people from low-lying areas. Obama met with federal emergency officials for an update on the Category 1 storm's path and the danger it poses to the Mid-Atlantic and New England. 'My main message to everybody involved is that we have to take this seriously,' said Obama. He urged people to 'listen to your local officials.' The President said emergency officials were confident that staging for the storm was in place. Hurricane Sandy was expected to hit the East Coast late on Monday, then combine with two winter weather systems as it moves inland, creating a hybrid super-storm.
No go: Yellow caution is wrapped around the turnstiles at Wall St station in anticipation of the hurricane
NYC Subway Closed: A warning sign about potential service changes due to Hurricane Sandy is seen at the Seventh Avenue subway station in New York today
Closed for Business: Plywood covers the revolving doors in preparation for Hurricane Sandy at the 2 Broadway building of Lower Manhattan in New York this morning
Only a few bread items remain on the shelves at the Waldbaums grocery store as Hurricane Sandy approaches on October 28, 2012 in Long Beach, New York At least four battleground states are likely to be hit: New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia. Obama traveled the nearly three miles from the White House to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's headquarters in his motorcade. As part of the briefing, the president also met with FEMA workers and thanked them. 'My message to the governors as well as to the mayors is anything they need, we will be there, and we will cut through red tape. 'We are not going to get bogged down with a lot of rules,' he said. 'We want to make sure we are anticipating and leaning forward into making sure that we have the best possible response to what is going to be a big and messy system.'
Molly White, 9, from Frankford, Delaware, covers her head as she is pelted by blowing sand on the beach, as Hurricane Sandy bears down on the East Coast in Ocean City, Maryland
A man walks alone on the boardwalk ahead of Hurricane Sandy after Governor Chris Christie's emergency declaration to shut down the city's casinos
Two pedestrians walk along the Atlantic City Boardwalk in Atlantic City New Jersey as the gambling mecca prepares for Hurricane Sandy The closure of New York City's transit system, the largest in the world, for only the second time in history means that almost 12 million people will be prevented from taking their usual route to work. TRAVEL CHAOS IN NEW YORK
The storm surge could be higher than the Manhattan flood walls and pour into subway tunnels. Mayor Michael Bloomberg said he ordered an evacuation of the low-lying areas along the edges of the city including parts of lower Manhattan, sections of Brooklyn and Staten Island, and the Rockaways in Queens. He said 72 evacuation centres had been created around the city and he also ordered the closure of schools. Lower Manhattan, the Rockaways and a low-lying area of Queens are the first areas to be evacuated. 'If you don’t evacuate, you are not only endangering your life, you are also endangering the lives of the first responders who are going in to rescue you,' he said at a news conference Sunday.'... This is a serious and dangerous storm.’ He added that those who didn’t leave wouldn’t be arrested. New York City police officers went door-to - door this evening to take down the names of those who had decided not to leave. To help direct any response to the damage caused by Sandy, Governor Andrew Cuomo has directed the New York Army and Air National Guard to mobilize in response to Hurricane Sandy. Cuomo said the Guard will deploy up to 1,175 troops starting on Sunday. They'll help local authorities respond to storm damage in New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley and the Southern Tier. On Sunday, 200 New York Army National Guard soldiers were deployed to New York City. By 6 p.m. Monday, Cuomo said 250 soldiers and 150 airmen would be in place on Long Island. Another 200 soldiers will go on duty Monday at armories in Binghamton, Walton, and Horseheads in the Southern Tier. Statewide, another 150 soldiers and airmen will be mobilized to provide command and control and logistical support.
Customers rush to buy groceries at the Fairway super market in New York City today as forecasters claim that Hurricane Sandy could be the biggest storm to ever hit the United States
An empty shelf is seen at the Fairway super market in New York after desperate shoppers stripped the store of essential goods such as water
Warning: New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, center, said there was a mandatory evacuation ordered for some parts of the city
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo gives a storm updtate on the advancing Hurricane Sandy at the Nassau County Office of Emergency Management today. If forecasts hold, and especially if the storm surge coincides with high tide, the effects should be much more severe for the city said Klaus Jacob, a Columbia University researcher who has advised the city on coastal risks. While the storm may not be the worst-case scenario, Jacob said he expected the subway system, as well as underground electrical systems and neighborhoods in Lower Manhattan, to be at least partially flooded. Governor Cuomo said: 'The transportation system is the lifeblood of the New York City region, and suspending all service is not a step I take lightly. 'But keeping New Yorkers safe is the first priority, and the best way to do that is to make sure they are out of harm's way before gale-force winds can start wreaking havoc on trains and buses.' The service is expected to resume operations about 12 hours after the storm ends, officials said at the news conference - which would put services on track to resume for Tuesday afternoon.
Edison trucks stage in Union Square today prepare for any city-wide power outages because of the advent of Hurricane Sandy
Construction workers disperse boards of wood to cover air vents that could cause the New York subway system to flood in preparation for Hurricane Sandy in New York on Sunday afternoon
Preparations: Metropolitan Transportation Authority workers cover an entrance to the Canal St. A, C, and E station with plywood to help prevent flooding
State of emergency: New Yorkers living in the Red Zone A face the highest risk of flooding from storm surges and Mayor Michael Bloomberg ordered their mandatory evacuation this afternoon
Matt Francis of Virginia Beach, Va., holds on to his hat, as the wind driven sand and rain from Hurricane Sandy blows across the beaches of Sandbridge in Virginia Beach, Virginia today. With more than 5 million commuters using it daily, New York City’s subway system is the largest in the world. In addition New Jersey Transit announced they will implement a gradual system-wide shutdown of all bus, rail, light rail and Access Link service, ahead of the massive storm bearing down on the state. Governor Chris Christie announced the plans Sunday afternoon. He says the shutdown will start at 4 pm Sunday and continue through 2 am on Monday. The service suspension process requires the relocation and securing of buses, rail equipment and other NJ Transit assets away from flood-prone areas. It also requires complete coordination with state and local officials throughout the process.
Jeremy Seidel, of Waterford, Conn., covers storefront windows with plywood in the Watch Hill section of Westerly, Rhode Island today Administration officials also say the Atlantic City Rail Line will suspend operations at 4 pm Sunday due to the rapidly deteriorating weather conditions and the continued evacuation of Atlantic City. The measures announced in New York City come as governors from North Carolina to Connecticut declared states of emergency ahead of Sandy's arrival As of 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, Sandy was at Category 1 strength, packing 75 mph winds, about 270 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, N.C., and moving northeast at 14 mph according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Currently about 575 miles south of New York City the storm was is so big that forecasters could not say with any certainty which areas would get the worst of it. 'We're looking at impact of greater than 50 to 60 million people,' said Louis Uccellini, head of environmental prediction for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. STORM SURGE: HOW TO PREPARE FOR A NATURAL DISASTERNew York City’s Office of Emergency Management offers advice for what to do in case disaster strikes:
The storm could bring the country's financial nerve center to a standstill, although the major Wall Street exchanges said they planned to open as usual on Monday because they have alternative facilities they can use. Worried residents in the hurricane's path packed stores, searching for generators, flashlights, batteries, food and other supplies in anticipation of power outages. New York City schools will be shut on Monday. Other local governments also announced school closures. As Hurricane Sandy trekked north from the Caribbean — where it left nearly five dozen dead — to meet two other powerful winter storms, experts said it didn't matter how strong the storm was when it hit land: The rare hybrid storm that follows will cause havoc over 800 miles from the East Coast to the Great Lakes. 'This storm that is going to be impacting the mid-Atlantic and parts of the Northeast...is going to be destructive, historic, and unfortunately life threatening,' AccuWeather's Bernie Rayno said to ABC News VIDEO: LATEST. Hurricane Sandy, now named hybrid 'Frankenstorm' threatens East Coast Hurricane Sandy: Hybrid 'Frankenstorm' threatens East Coast
A satellite image provided by NASA of Hurricane Sandy, pictured at 11 a.m. EDT churns off the east coast as it moves north on October 28, 2012 in the Atlantic Ocean
U.S. President Barack Obama (C) sits with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator William Craig Fugate (right) for a briefing about Hurricane Sandy today
US Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney greets supporters in an overflow area during a rally at Celina Fieldhouse in Celina, Ohio, today
A fisherman stands on a rock to surf cast in the turbulent waves kicked up by Hurricane Sandy in Montauk, New York
Protective berms are viewed on Compo Beach as the first signs of Hurricane Sandy approach on October 28, 2012 in Westport, Connecticut
A man leaves a supermarket with a shopping cart full of water as people prepare for Hurricane Sandy n Westport, Connecticut
Ed Morrissey boards up a friend's house prior to Hurricane Sandy arriving in Milford, Connecticut this morning
People stand on the Ocean City Music Pier watching heavy surf caused by Hurricane Sandy, on October 28, 2012 in Ocean City, New Jersey
Waves break against a bulkhead in the Brigands Bay area of Frisco, North Carolina today as Hurricane Sandy hits U.S. stock exchanges and Wall Street banks were sending employees into Manhattan on Sunday to stay in hotels and co-workers' homes, as markets prepared to open for business on Monday even as Sandy brought public transportation to a halt. Insurers also prepared for the storm's arrival, activating claims teams, staging adjusters near the locations most likely to be affected and generally getting ready to pay for a potentially huge volume of losses. While Sandy's 75 mph winds were not overwhelming for a hurricane, its exceptional width means the winds will last as long as two days, wearing down trees, roofs and buildings and piling up rainfall and storm surge. Hurricane-force winds extended 175 miles from the center of the asymmetrical storm, while its lesser tropical storm-force winds spanned 850 miles in diameter. 'That's gigantic,' said Chris Landsea, the hurricane center's science and operations officer. At high tide, it could bring a surge of seawater up to 11 feet above ground level to Long Island Sound and New York Harbor, forecasters said. 'Given the large wind field associated with Sandy, elevated water levels could span multiple tide cycles, resulting in repeated and extended periods of coastal and bayside flooding,' the forecasters said. Governors from North Carolina, where steady rains were whipped by gusting winds Saturday night, to Connecticut declared states of emergency. Delaware ordered mandatory evacuations for coastal communities by 8 p.m. Sunday. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who was criticized for not interrupting a vacation in Florida while a snowstorm pummeled the state in 2010, broke off campaigning for Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney in North Carolina on Friday to return home.
Ominous: In this handout image provided by NASA, Hurricane Sandy churns off the east coast on Sunday out in the Atlantic Ocean
People take a walk along the beach as high winds and heavy rain from Hurricane Sandy arrive in Virginia Beach, Virginia this morning
Updated map showing the potential track and storm forecast for Hurricane Sandy, as of 8 a.m., Sunday, Oct. 28 5 Reasons Why Sandy is Expected to be a Superstorm1. It is a Northbound Hurricane Hurricane Sandy is moving slowly toward the north-northeast but is expected to turn to the north and west later Sunday and Monday, forecasters say. At some point, it's expected to become what's known as an extratropical storm. Unlike a tropical system like a hurricane, which gets its power from warm ocean waters, extratropical systems are driven by temperature contrasts in the atmosphere. Although Sandy is currently a hurricane, it's important not to focus too much on its official category or its precise path (current models show it making landfall over New Jersey or Delaware sometime early Tuesday). It's a massive system that will affect a huge swath of the eastern U.S., regardless of exactly where it hits or its precise wind speed. For example, tropical storm-force winds can be felt more than 500 miles from the storm's center, according to the National Hurricane Center. It's already caused some minor flooding in North Carolina's Outer Banks and has prompted evacuations elsewhere. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has personnel and supplies spread as far west as the Ohio River Valley, said Craig Fugate, the agency's director. 2. Early Winter Storm Sandy is expected to merge with a wintry system from the west, at which point it will become the powerful superstorm that has forecasters and officials across the eastern U.S. Winds from that system will pull Sandy back toward the U.S. mainland. 3. Arctic Air from the North Frigid air coming south from Canada also is expected to collide with Sandy and the wintry storm from the west, creating a megastorm that is expected to park over the northeast for days. The brunt of the storm could hit areas farther inland. Officials are bracing for the worst: nearly a foot of rain, high winds and up to 2 feet of snow. 4. High Tides could Worsen Flooding Further complicating matters is the possibility for dangerous storm surges: A full moon means the tides will be higher than usual, which will make it easier for the storm's powerful winds to push water into low-lying areas. That, coupled with the threat of several inches of rain, has officials working to shore up flood defenses. Storm surge could reach anywhere from 2 to 11 feet along the northeastern coast, forecasters say. Inland river flooding also is a serious concern. 5. Combo of Snow, Wind Increase Risk for Widespread Power Outages Storms in recent years have left hundreds of thousands of people in the eastern U.S. without power, sometimes for days at a time. Utilities have been bringing in extra crews and lining up tree trimmers so they're prepared, and with good reason. The superstorm brings two possibilities for knocking out electricity. For one, hurricane-force winds of at 74 mph could send tree branches into power lines, or even topple entire trees and power poles. Those left standing could succumb to snow, which could weigh down still-leafy branches enough to also topple trees. 'I can be as cynical as anyone,' said Christie, who declared a state of emergency Saturday. 'But when the storm comes, if it's as bad as they're predicting, you're going to wish you weren't as cynical as you otherwise might have been.' 'Don't be stupid. Get out and go to higher, safer ground,' New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said today. 'Let's get to work on this. We know how to do this. We've been through this before.' Eighty-five-year-old former sailor Ray Leonard agreed. And he knows to heed warnings. Leonard and two crewmates in his 32-foot sailboat, Satori, rode out 1991's infamous 'perfect storm,' made famous by the Sebastian Junger best-selling book of the same name, before being plucked from the Atlantic off Martha's Vineyard, Mass., by a Coast Guard helicopter. 'Don't be rash,' Leonard said Saturday from his home in Fort Myers, Fla. 'Because if this does hit, you're going to lose all those little things you've spent the last 20 years feeling good about.' Sandy could have a brutal impact on major cities in the target zone. In New York, city officials discussed whether to shut the subway system on Sunday in advance of the storm, which could bring the country's financial nerve center to a standstill. The storm could cause the worst flooding Connecticut has seen in more than 70 years, said the state's governor, Dannel P. Malloy.
High winds blow sea foam onto Jeanette's Pier in Nags Head, North Carolina today as wind and rain from Hurricane Sandy move into the area
Rising tides: A car goes through the high water as Hurricane Sandy bears down on the east coast today in Ocean City, Maryland
Freak weather: High winds blow sea foam into the air as a person walks across Jeanette's Pier in Nags Head, North Carolina
Sea foam blown onto the shore of North Carolina from Hurricane Sandy resembles snow
View from Space: Handout satellite image made and released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on 28 October 2012 of Hurricane Sandy east of the US state of Georgia This morning, Sandy was located about 260 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, with top sustained winds of 75 miles per hour early Sunday, the NHC said. The storm was moving over the Atlantic parallel to the U.S. coast at 13 mph (20 km/h), but was forecast to make a tight westerly turn toward the U.S. coast on Sunday night. Tropical storm conditions were spreading across the coast of North Carolina on Sunday morning and gale force winds are forecast to begin affecting the New York area and southern New England by Monday morning, the NHC added. Sandy could be the largest storm to hit the United States, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's website. 'The size of this alone, affecting a heavily populated area, is going to be history making,' said Jeff Masters, a hurricane specialist who writes a blog posted on the Weather Underground (www.wunderground.com). Sandy could hit Boston, New York, Baltimore, Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia, one of the most densely populated regions of the country and home to tens of millions of people. Forecasters said Sandy was a rare, hybrid 'super storm' created by an Arctic jet stream wrapping itself around a tropical storm, possibly causing up to 12 inches of rain in some areas, as well as heavy snowfall inland. Sandy killed at least 66 people as it made its way through the Caribbean islands, including 51 in Haiti, mostly from flash flooding and mudslides, according to authorities. The approaching storm forced a change of plans for both presidential candidates ahead of the November 6 election. The White House said President Obama canceled a campaign appearance in Virginia on Monday and another stop in Colorado on Tuesday, and will instead monitor the storm from Washington. Republican challenger Mitt Romney rescheduled campaign events planned for Virginia on Sunday and was flying to Ohio instead. All along the U.S. coast worried residents packed stores, buying generators, candles, food and other supplies in anticipation of power outages. Some local governments announced schools would be closed on Monday and Tuesday. 'They're freaking out,' said Joe Dautel, a clerk at a hardware store in Glenside, Pennsylvania. 'I'm selling people four, five, six packs of batteries - when I had them.'
A police officer sets up a road block on South Oregon Inlet Road as water from Hurricane Sandy covers the road in Nags Head, North Carolina this morning
Cody Billotte walks through the high water as he loads his car to go to work as Hurricane Sandy bears down on the East Coast, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, in Ocean City, Maryland Sandy weakened briefly to a tropical storm Saturday but was soon back up to Category 1 strength, packing 75 mph winds. It was about 260 miles (420 kilometers) south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, N.C., and moving northeast at 13 mph as of 5 a.m. Sunday, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. The storm was expected to continue moving parallel to the Southeast coast most of the day and approach the coast of the mid-Atlantic states by Monday night, before reaching southern New England later in the week. It was so big, however, and the convergence of the three storms so rare, that 'we just can't pinpoint who is going to get the worst of it,' said Rick Knabb, director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Officials are particularly worried about the possibility of subway flooding in New York City, said Uccellini, of NOAA. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo told the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to prepare to shut the city's subways, buses and suburban trains. The city closed the subways before Hurricane Irene last year, and a Columbia University study predicted that an Irene surge just 1 foot higher would have paralyzed lower Manhattan. Up and down the Eastern Seaboard and far inland, officials urged residents and businesses to prepare in ways big and small. On Saturday evening, Amtrak began canceling train service to parts of the East Coast, including between Washington, D.C., and New York. Airlines started moving planes out of airports to avoid damage and adding Sunday flights out of New York and Washington in preparation for flight cancellations on Monday. The Virginia National Guard was authorized to call up to 500 troops to active duty for debris removal and road-clearing, while homeowners stacked sandbags at their front doors in coastal towns. 'You never want to be too naive, but ultimately, it's not in our hands anyway,' said Andrew Ferencsik, 31, as he purchased plywood and 2-by-4 lumber from a Home Depot in Lewes, Del. Utility officials warned rains could saturate the ground, causing trees to topple into power lines, and told residents to prepare for several days at home without power. President Barack Obama was monitoring the storm and working with state and locals governments to make sure they get the resources needed to prepare, administration officials said. In North Carolina's Outer Banks, a group of about 20 people was forced to wait out the storm on Portsmouth Island, a former fishing village that is now uninhabited and accessible only by private ferry. 'We tried to get off the island and the ferry service shut down on us,' said Bill Rowley, 49, of Rocky Mount, N.C.
Rowley said he could see 15-foot seas breaking over the island's dunes, enough to bring water to the island's interior. 'We'll be inundated and it'll probably be worse tomorrow,' he said. In New Jersey, hundreds of coastal residents started moving inland. Christie's emergency declaration will force the shutdown of Atlantic City's 12 casinos for only the fourth time in the 34-year history of legalized gambling here. City officials said they would begin evacuating the gambling hub's 30,000 residents at noon Sunday, busing them to mainland shelters and schools. The storm also forced the presidential campaign to juggle schedules. Romney scrapped plans to campaign Sunday in Virginia and switched his schedule for the day to Ohio. First lady Michelle Obama canceled an appearance in New Hampshire for Tuesday, and Obama moved a planned Monday departure for Florida to Sunday night to beat the storm. He also canceled appearances in Northern Virginia on Monday and Colorado on Tuesday.
Wicked weather: Beachgoers walk in the wind and rain as waves generated by Hurricane Sandy crash into Jeanette's Pier in Nags Head, North Carolina A state of emergency was declared yesterday in both New York and New Jersey as officials warned the already-killer Hurricane Sandy that is barreling toward the East coast will be the worst case scenario affecting a third of the U.S. and endangering as many as 66 million Americans. 'We should not underestimate the impact of this storm and not assume the predictions will be wrong,' New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said as he ordered the evacuation of much of the coast - including Atlantic City casinos. 'We have to be prepared for the worst.' Some residents of the state were warned to get ready for power outages that could last from seven to 10 days, and portable generators are selling out all up and down the Atlantic Seaboard. The tempest, which has been dubbed 'Frankenstorm' because of its proximity to Halloween is expected to dump over a foot of rain onto the Atlantic coast, arriving during a full moon when tides are near their highest increasing the likelihood of coastal flooding potential along the Eastern Seaboard. On Saturday night, the White House announced that President Obama is canceling campaign appearances in Northern Virginia on Monday and Colorado on Tuesday so he can monitor Hurricane Sandy. Obama is still scheduled to make campaign visits to Orlando, Fla., and Youngstown, Ohio Monday before returning to the White House. Other changes to the campaign schedule will be announced as warranted.
Up close and personal: Christy Deal of Whiteville, North Carolina, tries to hold on to an umbrella as her son Cage looks on during a trip to see Hurricane Sandy as it causes high surf and winds in Ocean Isle Beach
A wave crashes over the protecting sandbags in front of the houses on the east side of Ocean Isle Beach during Hurricane Sandy in Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina The White House says Obama is being regularly updated on the storm. He has directed his team to work to bring all available resources needed by state and local governments preparing for the storm, which could affect a third of the country with high winds, heavy rains and flooding. Wind gusts of up to 75 mph are expected when the storm hits on Tuesday with waves of up to 20 -feet and widespread power outages and on higher ground up to two feet of snow is expected to fall in Virginia and Ohio.
Ominous future: Newlyweds Kyle Legman and Michelle Sheivachman pose for their wedding pictures under storm clouds, across from New York's Lower Manhattan
Aircraft from the 106th Rescue Wing depart F.S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in preparation for Hurricane Sandy in West Hampton Beach, New York
Amusement at Coney Island are seen deserted for winter as the seaside resort prepares to face its second massive storm in two years An 800-mile wide swath of the country from the East Coast to the Great Lakes could see 50 mph winds regardless of Sandy's strength. 'This is not a coastal threat alone,' said Craig Fugate, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. 'This is a very large area.' Atlantic City's 12 casinos will close at 4pm Sunday for only the fourth time in the 34-year history of legalized gambling there, and officials advised residents of flood-prone areas to stay with family or be ready to leave. Airlines said to expect cancellations and waived change fees for passengers who want to reschedule.
Some U.S. airlines are giving travelers a way out if they want to scrap their plans due to Hurricane Sandy. JetBlue, US Airways and Spirit Airlines are offering waivers to customers who wish to reschedule their flights without paying the typical fee of up to $150. The offers cover passengers flying just about anywhere from Latin America to New Hampshire. Most other airlines are monitoring the storm and plan to update passengers later Friday. The airlines have only canceled a handful of flights so far, nearly all of them in and out of Florida and the Caribbean. Local forecaster's in Philadelphia have warned that the storm could directly hit the City of Brotherly Love and residents in South Jersey have begun stocking up on bottled water and batteries to prepare. The storm could also knock out East Coast refineries responsible for producing more than 6 per cent off the nation's fuel, potentially causing an increase in gas prices across the country.
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