Sandy: Surge, Winds, Snow Ahead for East

Add a Location

United States (English)
Sign In

Hurricane Central

Mid-Atlantic: Coastal Flooding Begins

Becky Kellogg & Associated Press Published: Oct 29, 2012, 11:33 AM EDT weather.com

1 / 55

Tazewell, Va.

Snow falls Monday morning, October 29, 2012 in Tazewell, Va. Facebook/Kimmy Yates

Schools are closed, subway systems are temporarily shut down, and the federal government has told non-emergency workers in Washington D.C. to stay home as a potentially historic and devastating storm begins its assault on the Mid-Atlantic region.

(MORE: New York Area Updates | New England)

Sandy is moving ever closer to the Mid-Atlantic coast, and the effects of this massive storm are beginning to be felt. The pier at Ocean City, Md. has been almost completely washed away by Sandy's waves. Major power outages, devastating winds, and coastal flooding are likely from this storm. The worst of the impacts will begin Monday but the slow-moving storm will linger into mid-week.

Among the headlines from the region:

Maryland: Ocean City, Md. Pier significantly damaged
Pennsylvania: All flights canceled at Philadelphia airport; I-95s Broad St. Exit in South Philadelphia closed
Early Voting Canceled: Maryland and Washington D.C.; President Obama and Mitt Romney reshuffled campaign plans
Mountain Snow Expected: West Virginia could see as much as 2-3 feet of snow. 2" snow reported in Tazewell, Va.

Virginia

Norfolk's Midtown Tunnel tide gate has been lowered and the tunnel is now closed to motorists. The causeway linking Chincoteague Island to the mainland has been ordered closed as of Monday at 7:15 a.m. Monday.

An impressive 7.21" of rain has been recorded at Gwynn's Island, Va., since Sandy's initial assault began. In Tazewell, Virginia the snow has begun in earnest with residents reporting as much as 2" of white stuff Tazewell is in the extreme southwest portion of the state.

AP PHOTO

An Orbital Sciences crew works to secure the first stage of the Antares rocket on the launch pad at Wallops Island, Va. on Friday, Oct. 26, 2012 in advance of Sandy.

The Navy ordered its Hampton Roads ships out to sea on Friday, but reversed course Saturday and directed ships still in port to remain. The Navy believes ships can safely weather the wind and storm surge in port.

Virginia Alerts & Outages:

School Closings:

Maryland

Tides on the Atlantic side of Maryland are running 3-4 feet above normal Monday morning. Ocean City's pier has been virtually washed away by Sandy's relentless waves. The pier is a venerable part of Ocean City, visited by thousands of tourists and locals each year.

"It's kind of like an icon in Ocean City," says Tracy Lind, a front desk worker at a hotel in Ocean City. "It's the closes people can get to the ocean without getting in."

FACEBOOK FAN: VALARIE WEILER-KILLINGER

A Facebook fan captured this photo of the Ocean City, Md. pier moments after it was almost completely washed away by Hurricane Sandy's waves.

Government offices, schools, courthouses, and mass transit systems are closed.

Maryland Alerts & Outages:

School Closings:

Washington, D.C.

Sunday night, President Barack Obama declared a state of emergency for the nation's capital city in advance of Sandy and all non-emergency federal workers are being asked to stay home.

Early voting is cancelled in the District of Columbia and all schools of closed. Transportation has also been brought to a virtual standstill.

AP PHOTO/MANUEL BALCE CENETA

District of Columbia Department of Public Works worker Donald Jackson, right, passes a sandbag from the line of fellow workers handing out free sandbags to District of Columbia residents in Washington, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, ahead of Hurricane Sandy.

Metrorail system will be closed Monday. No decision will be made until at least Monday night as to when it will reopen.
All Metrobus service suspended Sunday; to remain suspended until further notice.
All MetroAccess service canceled Monday.

Emergency management officials across the region urged residents to prepare for days without power, water and natural gas.

Washington, D.C. Alerts & Closings:

Pennsylvania

In Philadelphia public transit is shut down, schools are closed, all flights are canceled out of Philadelphia International Airport, and Amtrak has stopped service.

250 people have already been taken to Red Cross shelters in Philadelphia and nearby counties. Learn more about how to help the Red Cross respond to Sandy or other disasters.

Play Video

iWitness: Sandy Approaches

iWitness: Sandy Approaches
Sandy Gets Closer to Shore
Live: Sandy in New York City
Timing for Impacts from Sandy
Waves Wash Over Street
Live: Sandy in North Carolina
Deer Trapped in Surf from Sandy
Live: Huge Sandy in New Jersey
Sandy from Space
East Coast Ready for Sandy
Great Lake Impacts from Sandy
Storm Watch
FEMA is Ready for Sandy
Live: Sandy in Connecticut
iWitness: Sandy Approaches
iWitness: Big Waves in N. Carolina
Chatham Hunkers Down For Sandy
Weather Emergency Phone App
President Obama on Sandy
The Winter Side of Sandy
Sandy: Worries about NYC Subways
A National Look at the Next 3 Days
Hurricane Prep Time Running Out
Supplies Running Short
Sandy Preps: In Their Own Words
Sandy Takes Aim on East Coast
East Coast on Alert for Sandy
Stay Safe in High Winds
My Power's Out. Now What?
Sandy: Lessons from Previous Storms
Closed Beaches Don't Deter Surfers
Bahamas Pounded by Sandy
Sandy's Leaf Problem
Many Evacuate, Some Stay
Send Us Your Pictures And Video
Hurricane Sandy Slams Cuba
Will Sandy Impact Presidential Race?
Sandy Shreds Buildings and Homes
Sandy Floods Already Devastated Haiti
Hurricane Sandy in Cuba
Tips: What To Do When Power Goes Out
Shark Attack Victim Remembered
Rescue Caught on Tape
Sandy's Waves Smash Jamaica
Sandy Floods Cut Off Communities
Watch Bus Driver Save Student
Drought Uncovers History
California Funnel Caught on Cam!
Backyard 'meteorite' is just a rock
Art By the Bushel
Go Fly a Kite
Giant Fork Meet Giant Potato
Cirque Ready for the Storm
Super Tuesday Tornado Outbreak
Flying in a Hot Air Pig
Safest Weather Cities
Send us your videos. It's easy!
Be An iWitness Reporter

Gov. Tom Corbett declared a disaster emergency and officials are telling residents in flood-prone areas to leave. If you were affected by Hurricane Irene last year be ready to move or leave now before the worst of the storm arrives.

"This is not a typical storm," Corbett said. "It could very well be historic in scope and in nature."

Philadelphia officials said the city could see record coastal flooding along the Delaware and lower Schuylkill rivers. Officials warned of 3-6" of rain between Sunday and Tuesday in central Pennsylvania, leading to possible flooding along tributaries of the Susquehanna River.

Pennsylvania Travel Alerts & Outages:

School Closings:

Delaware

Tides in Lewes, Delaware are running 4.5 feet above normal as of midday Monday. Rehoboth Beach has recorded 4.42" of rain since Sunday.

Also in Lewes, tree limbs were coming down and taking out power lines Monday morning.

Delaware Alerts & Closings:

West Virginia

2-3 feet of snow are expected for the West Virginia mountains. Blizzard warnings have been issuedfor parts of the mountains and, as of Monday morning, there are reports of light snow.

IWITNESS WEATHER USER: PLANTINGRICHARD

iWitness weather user plantingrichard snapped this photo at 7:30 a.m. Monday in Granview, West Virginia.

Jefferson County Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Barbara Miller says residents should prepare for possible effects from the storm and the upcoming winter months.

West Virginia Alerts & Outages:

Amtrak Service Cancellations
FAA Flight Delays: Northeast States
Power Outages Maps: Appalachian Power |First Energy Power

School Closings:

North Carolina

The Coast Guard has rescued 14 men who had to abandon ship off the coast of Cape Hatteras this morning. The H.M.S. Bounty was in 18 foot waves and 40 m.p.h. winds when the crew had to abandon ship. Two men are still unaccounted for.

There is flooding on the sound side of Pamlico Sound in North Carolina. Tides are running 3 feet above normal.

Play Video

iWitness: Sandy Approaches

iWitness: Sandy Approaches
Sandy Gets Closer to Shore
Live: Sandy in New York City
Timing for Impacts from Sandy
Waves Wash Over Street
Live: Sandy in North Carolina
Deer Trapped in Surf from Sandy
Live: Huge Sandy in New Jersey
Sandy from Space
East Coast Ready for Sandy
Great Lake Impacts from Sandy
Storm Watch
FEMA is Ready for Sandy
Live: Sandy in Connecticut
iWitness: Sandy Approaches
iWitness: Big Waves in N. Carolina
Chatham Hunkers Down For Sandy
Weather Emergency Phone App
President Obama on Sandy
The Winter Side of Sandy
Sandy: Worries about NYC Subways
A National Look at the Next 3 Days
Hurricane Prep Time Running Out
Supplies Running Short
Sandy Preps: In Their Own Words
Sandy Takes Aim on East Coast
East Coast on Alert for Sandy
Stay Safe in High Winds
My Power's Out. Now What?
Sandy: Lessons from Previous Storms
Closed Beaches Don't Deter Surfers
Bahamas Pounded by Sandy
Sandy's Leaf Problem
Many Evacuate, Some Stay
Send Us Your Pictures And Video
Hurricane Sandy Slams Cuba
Will Sandy Impact Presidential Race?
Sandy Shreds Buildings and Homes
Sandy Floods Already Devastated Haiti
Hurricane Sandy in Cuba
Tips: What To Do When Power Goes Out
Shark Attack Victim Remembered
Rescue Caught on Tape
Sandy's Waves Smash Jamaica
Sandy Floods Cut Off Communities
Watch Bus Driver Save Student
Drought Uncovers History
California Funnel Caught on Cam!
Backyard 'meteorite' is just a rock
Art By the Bushel
Go Fly a Kite
Giant Fork Meet Giant Potato
Cirque Ready for the Storm
Super Tuesday Tornado Outbreak
Flying in a Hot Air Pig
Safest Weather Cities
Send us your videos. It's easy!
Be An iWitness Reporter

Officials on North Carolina's barrier islands urged motorists to stay off the roads during the storm, especially beach roads known to flood or to be covered by sand. Hurricane Irene last year caused 6 feet or more of water rise from Pamlico Sound into homes and slice the only road to the mainland from the low-lying, 70-mile-long island.

North Carolina Alerts & Closings: