In addition to the states, provinces and cities listed here with continuing coverage of the storm situation here at The Gate, cities such as Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Charlotte, Halifax, Knoxville, Louisville, Ottawa and Cincinnati could be affected by power outages due to the confluence of Hurricane Sandy with a winter storm, a strong jet stream, a cold Arctic front, a strong high pressure system over Greenland, and a full moon — all promising to create a historic storm few people have seen in their lifetimes.
With the increase in discussions posted on FlyerTalk, thousands of FlyerTalk members could be potentially affected directly or indirectly by this storm. An updated list of discussions posted on FlyerTalk is found below.
Hurricane Sandy may “only” be classified as a Category One hurricane, but the strength of this storm extends for hundreds of miles from its center. Winds of tropical storm speed will be felt from North Carolina northward to the states in New England and as far west as Ohio.
The full moon means high tide in coastal areas due to the gravitational pull of the moon and its effect on the water. Add a storm surge of up to eleven feet and waves which could reach 20 feet on top of that, and you have a recipe for extensive massive flooding not only in coastal areas, but along lake and river banks as well. This is not including up to twelve inches of rain forecast in local areas what could further add to the misery, and the rain could continue for several days. Those who are in low-lying areas near water should consider evacuating, even if it is not mandatory.
Strong winds mean that objects such as trees could be uprooted and topple down unexpectedly — especially when the ground is already saturated with water. Toppled utility poles and snapped power lines mean no power — and no one can predict the full extent of who will not have power, nor how long as to when power will remain out. The strong winds could also render driving conditions dangerous.
The Arctic front will bring air cold enough to produce snow along the Appalachian Mountains, where some places could receive as much as two feet of snow.
The strong high pressure system over Greenland is what is steering Hurricane Sandy on its unusual track sharply to the west. Forecasters are predicting landfall somewhere around central or southern New Jersey, but the effects of the storm are already being felt by residents of every state on the eastern seaboard of the United States and in portions of Canada as well.
The winter storm from the west colliding with Hurricane Sandy only adds to the potential strength of this storm.
Airlines are asking customers to change their travel plans to affected areas, and if you are one of those customers, you are urged to please take advantage of changing your itinerary free of charge — that is, if your flight has not already been canceled.
However, if your destination is not in the affected areas of the eastern United States and Canada, that does not mean you will not be affected. Expect extensive delays due to power outages, cancelled flights, closed airports, unavailable aircraft and other domino effects resulting from this storm.
If you are traveling, please ensure you are prepared with provisions in your carry-on bag, including but not limited to:
- Snacks and water in case sustenance is necessary
- A change of clothing — especially to keep you warm
- A first-aid kit
- Cash in case automated teller machines are out of power or money
- Information written on paper in case your portable electronic device runs out of power and cannot be immediately recharged
- Reading material or puzzles to keep you occupied
Be prepared to be stranded in an airport if nearby hotels are fully occupied. Reserve a rental car in advance just in case other means of transportation are not available.
Better yet, stay home and do not travel at all until the threat of this storm passes.
Here is the updated list of discussions posted on FlyerTalk pertaining to this storm:
- The 2012 Storm Featuring Hurricane Sandy: Please Report Weather Conditions Near You TraveBuzz! forum
- Hurricane Sandy and Madrid – JFK flights Iberia Airlines Iberia Plus forum
- Sandy and Amtrak Amtrak Guest Rewards forum
- Hurricane Sandy/Frankenstorm Weather Waivers? Hilton HHonors forum
- CX and Hurricane Sandy Cathay Pacific Asia Miles forum
- HURRICANE SANDY informations Washington D.C. (including Baltimore) forum
- Any LH USA-East Coast Cancellations Due To Hurricane Sandy? Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners) forum
- Hurricane sandy. Air Wisconsin Travel News forum
- KLM flights to US East coast affected by hurricane Sandy KLM Flying Dutchman forum
- Hurricane sandy–tips for pet owners Travel with Pets forum
- Hurricane Sandy, DL, and Mid-Atlantic States Delta SkyMiles forum
- Trying to avoid hurricane Sandy and related issues (consolidated) American AAdvantage forum
- Hurricane Sandy and Potential Impact to UA’s Operations? United MileagePlus forum (Consolidated)
- Hurricane Sandy threatens to slam East Coast and linger for several days OMNI forum
- Hurricane Sandy Virgin America Elevate forum
- Flying into JFK with Hurricane Sandy Emirates SkyWards forum
- Hurricane Sandy – Emergency Measures and Travel Impacts (Oct 2012) New York City forum
- Hurricane Sandy Advisory (Fall 2012) Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan forum
- advisories for Sandy added for the northeast jetBlue TrueBlue forum
- Sandy Travel Advisory US Airways Dividend Miles forum
