meteorological history hurricane sandy meteorological history hurricane sandy second atlantic hurricane record lasted week late october early november classified eighteenth named storm tenth hurricane second major hurricane annual hurricane season sandy originated tropical wave october performing small loop central caribbean_sea system intensified tropical storm day later final hurricane season briefly coming ashore coast jamaica october emerging jamaica cuba sandy began period rapid intensification category hurricane saffir simpson hurricane wind scale maximum sustained winds mph landfall intensity near october approaching trough central united_states induced high wind shear sandy traversed bahamas causing hurricane weaken tropical storm turning northeastward southern trough detached causing shear decrease late october allowing sandy regain strength attained secondary peak category strength following day later turned west change direction sandy began transition extratropical cyclone process completed making landfall near new_jersey late october extratropical remnants weakened gradually overland center circulation declared indistinguishable western pennsylvania days later addition largest atlantic hurricane sandy broke records lowest pressures observed cities origins origins hurricane sandy trace tropical wave moved western coast africa october wave tracked westward subsequent days interacted upper level trough resulting development widespread shower thunderstorm activity strong wind shear prevented development time increased convergence likely result hurricane wave west hindered development october numerous disorganized convective activity formed near center disturbance despite moderate wind shear marked extended low pressure area conditions expected gradually favorable development october following modest organization national_hurricane_center nhc assessed high potential tropical cyclone hours invest day convection decreased barometric pressures area remained low trademark development convection gradually increased day went system slowed nearly stationary western caribbean utc october surface observations satellite imagery indicated system developed organized convection classified tropical depression eighteen time upgrade system situated south kingston jamaica environment newly formed depression characterized area weak steering currents south ridge extending eastward gulf_of_mexico low wind shear warm sea surface temperatures strengthening rapid deepening late october hurricane hunters flight observed winds mph removed center circulation prompting nhc upgrade depression tropical storm sandy outflow increased moist air helped convection organize nhc noted remaining nearly stationary warm waters southwestern caribbean_sea good sign time year cloud pattern initially remained largely unchanged early october eye began developing observed microwave imagery sandy moving steadily northward drawn trough approaching northwest utc october nhc upgraded sandy hurricane status hurricane hunters observed flight level winds mph time sandy located roughly south kingston jamaica caribbean bahamas approximately utc october sandy landfall near kingston winds near mph spending short duration island sandy moved offshore cuba began period rapid intensification cyclone strengthened category hurricane saffir simpson hurricane wind scale mph winds operationally sandy classified high end category hurricane landfall shortly utc october hurricane came ashore west landfall sandy defined eye diameter flight level winds reached mph land structure deteriorated eye longer visible exiting cuba combination dry air increasing shear restricted outflow sandy caused structure storm disorganized mid level low florida approaching trough turned hurricane north northwest early october majority convection association sandy located north center primarily wind shear dry air southwest hurricane size storm increased greatly tropical storm force winds extending center day progressed sandy continued moving slowly north strong wind shear caused storm intensity decrease slightly october nhc remarked sandy showing characteristics hybrid cyclone like large frontal low system maintained warm thermal core despite strong mph wind shear continued develop thunderstorms abundance divergence nearby trough trough turned sandy northeast began phase called october sandy briefly weakened tropical storm dry air fully mid- upper level later day data received hurricane hunters indicated sandy intensified minimal hurricane post tropical transition final landfall late october sandy moving steadily northeastward ahead approaching trough maintained winds hurricane force dry air continued strong wind shear caused inner area convection diminish october thunderstorms increased center sandy upper level circulation better defined opposed hours previous day progressed wind shear decreased banded eye began hurricane convection organized early october time sandy began transitioning extratropical storm western periphery circulation began interacting cold storm revolved upper level low eastern united_states southwest ridge atlantic_canada nhc described highly caused sandy turn north northwest maintaining eye deep convection hurricane intensified reaching secondary peak mph utc october time cyclone moving small area waters excess time sandy wind field diameter warm cold located near storm center storm predicted extratropical landfall convection diminished hurricane accelerated new_jersey coast involved low west pressure continued drop indicated system intensifying instability advisory issued nhc late october nhc noted considerations lead conclude appropriate classification advisory time extratropical agency declared sandy post tropical cyclone utc afternoon located offshore southern new_jersey hours later storm landfall approximately northeast near intensity landfall estimated mph strongest winds located offshore east southeast center dissipation moving ashore sandy continued moving west weakening hurricane force time reached pennsylvania system non tropical known time took responsibility issuing advisories low remnants sandy brought heavy snow high winds central resulting warnings issued system continued weaken moved western pennsylvania utc october storm movement shifted northwest conditions continued bringing snow region seen high amounts day utc october circulation degenerated trough low pressure center low pressure later day remnants sandy spread great lakes issued advisory time system moved region nearly feet snow fallen areas west_virginia tennessee maryland lesser amounts region days sandy remnants drifted northward northeastward ontario merging low pressure area predictions early october sandy developing caribbean forecasts predicted storm strike east_coast united_states tropical cyclone forecast models anticipated storm sea day computer models agreed sandy interact trough eastern united_states turn west days landfall models predicted sandy strike american global forecast system model anticipated hurricane sea remaining models scenarios days landfall nhc landfall new_jersey computer models general european computer models performed better united_states ones european models higher resolution mit professor moment attention performance models recommend dedicated effort reverse records storm surge produced hurricane sandy occurred high tide pushed water new_york beating previous record set location storm surge feet low tide reported battery park norfolk long_island hurricane occurred records officially kept storm tide records broken new_jersey philadelphia pennsylvania peak tides respectively tidal gauge lost power tide rising meaning tide higher recorded peak reached record height measured foot wave october feet taller foot wave registered sandy largest tropical cyclone terms gale diameter records began addition inhg sandy second new_england hurricane intense storm hit land united_states north cape_hatteras north_carolina barometric pressure hit record low mbar inhg new_jersey breaking previous record mbar inhg set sandy broke record producing lowest pressure philadelphia minimum mbar inhg previous record mbar inhg set storm century global warming effect climate scientists agree climate change increases likelihood stronger storms possibly leading fewer researchers unable responsible climate change development track sandy tropical cyclones derive energy warm waters warmer water generally means stronger storms climate change caused sea levels rise storm surge coastal flooding caused sandy devastating overall sea level risen accelerating rise sea level increases risk major floods occur time storm hits paper nature projected climate change lead floods occur century happening years case hurricane sandy major factors contributing size strength storm unusually warm ocean surface temperatures increase blocking patterns expected occur frequently global warming drift north atlantic hurricanes typically moved east sea jet stream prevailing winds typical pattern blocked ridge high pressure greenland resulting negative arctic forming jet stream causing double east_coast sandy caught northwesterly flow blocking pattern greenland stalled arctic combined cyclone argued jet stream unusual shape caused melting arctic ice noting blocking patterns unusual fall increasing said studies found recent record decline arctic sea ice responsible heats pole altering equator pole temperature difference forcing jet stream slow stuck large loops said negative blocking anticyclone place hypothesis remained natural weather attributes foot foot meter storm surge global sea level rise harvard calls hurricane sandy foot storm surge example mid century new norm eastern according senior answer asked question event caused climate change wrong question weather events affected climate change environment occur warmer illustrates pointing baseball player system cause home runs home runs likely stressed individual weather event hurricane sandy attributed climate change specific cause matter attributed immediate cause sandy little alignment tropical storm extratropical storm agrees storm caused natural adds enhanced global warming factor contributing storm strength additional energy warm water global warming identified contributing average sea surface temperatures temperature atmosphere increases capacity hold water increases leading stronger storms higher rainfall amounts representative democrat wanted republicans hold hearing links climate change hurricane sandy hurricane sandy exactly type extreme weather event climate scientists said frequent severe fail reduce carbon pollution writing request hold hearing storm relation climate change lame duck session wrote hearing presented senate house prior emergence new congress early april rush renewed request hearing stating rely representatives electric utilities coal companies oil chemical manufacturers explain state science climate change unlikely view challenge confront opportunities
Meteorological history of Hurricane Sandy