New reports by the National Hurricane Center have stated that Hurricane Sandy is now moving faster than it was just a couple hours ago and is expected to make landfall at approximately 5:00 or 6:00 p.m. in New Jersey.
The Category 1 hurricane is now moving 28 mph, up from 15 mph from this morning and is only 175 miles south-southeast from New York and 110 miles from Atlantic City.
Hurricane forced winds extend up to 175 miles from the center of the storm and tropical-storm force winds are extending up to 485 miles according to CBS. Maximum sustained winds have been measured at 90 mph as well.
Major flooding is also being predicted in most states that will be affected this week, as many areas could see rainfall amounts from five to 11 inches from today through early Wednesday. Major flooding is expected in areas like Ocean City, MD and Atlantic City, NJ.
The storm is expected to turn inland where it will converge with two other systems, creating what is being called a "Frankenstorm" according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm has already forced states like New York, Virginia, Massachusetts and New Jersey to shut down schools, mass transit systems and major businesses today and Tuesday.
The U.S. stock markets didn't open today either, the first weather related closure in three decades according to CNN. They are expected to remain closed Tuesday as well.
"The biggest challenge is going to be not knowing exactly where the heaviest-hit areas are going to be," said Craig Fugate, Federal Emergency Management Administrator to CBS. "The fact the storm's going to take several days to move through the area with heavy rain and wind, so that's going to slow down recovery activities like utility crews getting out and putting power back up."
6,000 flights were canceled Sunday night and since then planes have not been allowed to take off heading to or from any east coast airport.
Half a million people have already lost power due to high winds since it made landfall on the east coast in several states and things are expected to get worse before they get better sometime later this week. Yahoo is predicting that over 10 million people to lose power by tomorrow afternoon.
Snow has already started to fall in West Virginia and they are expected to see somewhere between two to three feet of snow throughout the next 48 hours thanks to the hurricane according to The Washington Post.
President Barack Obama, who canceled campaign plans on Monday and Tuesday, spoke to the nation this afternoon to discuss Hurricane Sandy and urged citizens to listen to what is being said about their specific state or town.
"Please listen to what your state and local officials are saying. When they tell you to evacuate, you need to evacuate. Don't delay, don't pause, don't question the instructions that are being given, because this is a powerful storm."
Sixty-five people have been killed so far due to Hurricane Sandy in the Caribbean, but weather experts are saying that more deaths are predicted in the U.S. over the next couple of days mainly due to people refusing to admit the hurricane will be as serious as predicted.
"This storm is a killer storm that will likely take more lives as she makes landfall," said Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley in a press conference. "This is a very large and unprecedented storm. It will be a couple of days before it will be even safe to get linemen out on the streets [and] up in the bucket trucks and reconnecting people to power."
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