Greensboro-- North Carolina is getting ready for a brush with Sandy this weekend into early next week. Winds and rain are increasing along the coast as the storm get closer.

The storm will slowly track up the coast. The center of the storm is expected to stay a couple hundred miles off shore. However, since the storm is so large, the impact of the storm will be felt as far west as the Triad.

The impact on the Piedmont Triad will be felt mainly Saturday night through early Monday.  Winds will increase through the period and we could have gusts of 25-35 mph. As for rain, there will be a sharp drop off of moderate rain in the Eastern Piedmont to very small amounts in the metro Triad and points westward. In general rainfall amounts will be ..25" or less.

The impacts for Eastern North Carolina to the coast will be much worse. Winds will increase to 40-45 mph with gusts of 50-60 mph and higher. Total rainfall amounts of 3" to 6" are expected. As high waves pound the shore, severe beach erosion is likely.

Sandy is expected to recurve northwestward  and move inland over Southern New England near the Jersey shore early next week.

Sandy has a large circulation, clouds and breezy conditions will remain over North Carolina into the first part of next week. Sandy will also force much colder air into the state next week. High temperatures will be in the low 50's, with lows at night in the mid 30's.