Frankenstorn Sandy barrels towards East Coast with life threatening force

New York, NY, United States (4E) – Hurricane Sandy is expected to reach the East Coast Monday, threatening some 50 million residents with a “life-threatening storm surge” that could bring floods to the Mid-Atlantic coast, including Long Island and New York Harbor.

The National Hurricane Center said that the category 1 storm will also bring sustained winds in excess of 70 mph and even stronger gusts that would have a direct and possibly devastating effect on millions.

Despite its eye still hundreds of miles away, the North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland coasts felt its rage Sunday.

Forecasters have warned that there’s a big chance that the storm will collide with a cold front from the West creating a superstorm that could stay along the Eastern Seaboard for days which would be dangerous because it could cause strong wind, flooding, and power outages.

The storm could also bring up to two feet of snow in Kentucky, North Carolina and West Virginia.

Last Sunday, states of emergency were issued from North Carolina to Connecticut while Delaware declared mandatory evacuations for coastal communities. Ocean City, Maryland was also evacuated.

There were more than more than 7,200 flights cancelled and Amtrak has begun suspending operation across the Northeast. New York and Philadelphia closed their subways, buses and commuter trains Sunday night. Monday classes have also been suspended in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington and Baltimore. In Washington and New Jersey, Metrorail and PATH train services have been canceled.

Authorities reported that the hurricane, centered 470 miles south-southeast of New York, should reach southern New Jersey, the Delmarva Peninsula, Delaware and parts of Maryland and Virginia late Monday.

Sandy rumbled through the Carribbean, before barreling to the United States, leaving at least 67 deaths.

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