Local Effects Of Hurricane Sandy
The effects of Hurricane Sandy will be as far reaching as Chicago and northern Indiana will feel the impact starting tomorrow.
A tropical system, or its remnants that become “extratropical,” can have a massive radius of influence on the weather pattern, according to the National Weather Service. Additionally, the NWS notes that because of the size and depth, these weather systems can alter, shift and even slow a typical jet stream regime, changing the progress of other weather systems.
As the storm is projected to hit the East Coast Monday, a wind advisory has been issued for northern Indiana beginning at 5 p.m. and continuing through 8 p.m. Tuesday.
The NWS says, that while the hurricane itself will not reach the inland states, the system will halt the west-to-east progress of high and low pressures across the Midwest and western Great Lakes. The primary impact will be powerful northerly winds over and near Lake Michigan — of 50 to 60 mph — that will increase on Monday night through the middle of the week, the NWS.
Mostly along Lake Michigan, gale force winds will occur resulting in waves at or in excess of 20 feet near the shores. a Lakeshore Flood Watch has also been issued.
Locally, the NWS says Kosciusko and surrounding counties will see a high Monday of just 49 with sustained winds out of the north at 25 mph to 35 mph and gusts greater than 50 mph overnight Monday and into Tuesday.
The wind advisory means motorists in lightweight and high profile vehicles should drive with caution. The high winds will also cause unsecured objects to be blown around and small branches to be broken from trees. Power outages could be possible.