Frankenstorm is headed our way — and its aftermath could haunt New York for days after Halloween.
Hurricane Sandy, labeled by AccuWeather “an extremely rare and dangerous storm,” will wallop New York starting Sunday, forecasters say.
A citywide subway and bus shutdown is possible, and Gov. Cuomo has declared a statewide state of emergency.
Mayor Bloomberg advised New Yorkers to be ready for Sandy with a “go kit” that includes bottled water, a flashlight and other emergency supplies.
“Our city is very likely to feel its effects in the form high tides, high winds and heavy rainfall lasting for several days,” the mayor said.
Sandy is so big, it’s expected to start hammering the city early on Sunday, a full day it finally makes a direct strike late Monday or early Tuesday. Some forecasters say its winds could peak at 100 mph.
Bloomberg offered a special warning to the 375,000 New Yorkers who live in low-lying areas — but the city hasn’t yet issued any special evacuation orders.
“We do not think it’s necessary to make that decision now,” he said.
Expect to hear more from the city in the late afternoon or early evening Saturday, Bloomberg said.
“Sandy will be more like a large nor’easter on steroids. It could have the strength of a category 1 or 2 hurricane,” says AccuWeather forecster Alex Sosnowski.
Coastal storm surges will be made worse when the full moon lifts tides.
Even if, as expected, the storm’s center hits south of the city, in New Jersey or the Delmarva Penninsula, Sandy’s massive size ensures the city still will get slammed.
Other storm developments:
• MTA officials say they’re monitoring the progress of the storm but haven’t decided yet whether to order a system-wide shutdown like the one ordered in August 2011 during Hurricane Irene.
• The Buildings Department has ordered all outdoor construction work to halt at 5 p.m. tomorrow until further notice.
• Admissions tests for specialized high schools will take place tomorrow as scheduled. Admissions tests scheduled for Sunday have been postponed to Nov. 18.
• City officials will decide Sunday whether school will be canceled Monday.
• Senior centers will close late Monday, and will shut completely on Tuesday.