How Unusual Is Sandy's Potential Path?

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Weather.com - Jon Erdman and Nick Wiltgen, 10/24/12

Sandy Computer Model Tracks

Sandy Computer Model Tracks

Typical Late-Season Track:  "Recurve"

Plotted above are the latest computer model forecast plots for Sandy.  

Typically by late October, tropical cyclones forming in the central or western Atlantic Ocean have a good chance of "recurving", or being caught up in the polar jet stream, and turning away from the U.S. mainland.  Those forming in the western Caribbean have a better chance of hitting the U.S. in late October, particularly Florida, as we saw 7 years ago with Hurricane Wilma.  

However, as you can see above, there are some model forecast tracks that do not "recurve" Sandy, but offer a more menacing track, turning the cyclone north or northwestward toward the U.S. East Coast.

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