Greensboro, NC -- While Sandy churns its way through the Bahamas a concern is growing for a significant impact in the Northeast United States.
As of the Thursday 5 pm Advisory on from the National Hurricane Center, Sandy was located in the Central Bahamas with sustained winds of 105 mph moving to the north at 20 mph with a minimum central pressure of 963 mb.
Sandy is a large storm and is only expect to grow in size over the next 5 days. Currently tropical storm force winds extend out over 200 miles from the center of the storm while hurricane force winds only extend out 35 miles.
A turn toward the northwest and decrease in forward speed is expected through Friday. Sandy is then expected to make a turn back to the northeast Friday night into Saturday. This curved track will essentially keep Sandy parallel to the Southeastern Coast and Carolina Coast.
While Sandy is not forecast to make landfall on the Carolina coast, strong winds (30-60 mph gusts), heavy rain, high surf and dangerous rip currents can be expected. Rainfall totals along the North Carolina coast will range from 4-6 inches with higher amounts possible in isolated locations.
As Sandy parallels the Carolina coast over the weekend a cold front will also be swinging through the Triad. The combination of Sandy and the approaching cold front will bring a 30% chance of showers to the Triad Saturday and Sunday.
Conditions will also become windy in the Triad Saturday through Tuesday as Sandy grows in size and approaches the Northeast Coast.
The full extent of what Sandy will bring to the Northeast is still uncertain. The potential, however, for an epic perfect-storm is certainly there. As Sandy approaches the Northeast Coast early next week it will combine with the cold front that moved through the Triad and its upper level energy to evolve into a monster hurricane-nor'easter hybrid.
The impacts of this storm through the Northeast will include very strong winds, high surf, storm surge and inland flooding. This could potentially lead to millions of people losing power and billions of dollars in damage.
Stay with WFMY News 2 and digtriad.com for the latest on Sandy and it's impact all along the Eastern Seaboard.