Preparing for a possible visit from Sandy

Vermont officials are keeping in close touch with weather forecasters and making initial preparations for what could be another encounter with a severe storm. Just over a year after Tropical Storm Irene caused tremendous flooding damage across the state, it appears that Hurricane Sandy has its sights set on New England. 

Sandy, now a strong Category 2 hurricane, is moving across Cuba at the moment. The storm has a well defined eye and includes maximum sustained winds of more than 100 mph. It is expected to track to the east of Florida into the Atlantic Ocean (The eastern coast of Florida is expected to experience tropical storm conditions). However, some forecast models show the storm doing an unusual counter-clockwise loop as it moves north and making landfall in the New York-New England area. The models are based on a trough of atmospheric pressure over the U.S., which could draw the hurricane inland in the Northeast late Monday or Tuesday.

Vermont's experience with Tropical Storm Irene illustrated the importance of communication through various levels of government and emergency services. Communication has been strengthened in the storm's aftermath and may get a test from Sandy.

Mark Bosma of Vermont Emergency Management recommends that state residents consider purchasing extra food, water and batteries - items that won't be wasted if the storm decides to remain out at sea. "We always encourage the public to be ready for anything," Bosma said.

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(Update, Oct. 26, 2012: The computer models appear to be settling on a Sandy strike along the Northeast coast sometime late Monday. The New Jersey area seems to be the current focus. A merge with several other weather systems and the development of a Halloween "Frankenstorm" over the New York City region is feared. Worst case seems to be a Sandy right-hook to New York City just as the storm stalls. That could deliver days of strong winds, intense rain and coastal flooding to the heavily populated region. Sandy is now a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph.)

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The  Oct. 25 "spaghetti" plots of Hurricane Sandy computer models generally predict a turn toward the Northeast U.S.