Hurricane Sandy Rapidly Intensifies As It Nears South Jersey Landfall (Pictures)

PJ Media ^ | October 29,2012 | Brendan Loy

[Hojczyk]

It’s looking bad out there, as the above photo of Atlantic City, NJ indicates. Any hopes that Hurricane Sandy had been “overhyped” — that its storm surge would underwhelm, like Irene’s did in many places; that computer models’ forecast of last-minute deepening was implausible and wouldn’t happen; or perhaps that Sandy would simply turn away and go out to sea — have now been dashed. A disaster is underway. The only question is how severe it will end up being.

What’s happening is precisely what the computer models have said, consistently for days now, was going to happen. Sandy is strengthening in the hours before landfall — down to an incredible, record-setting 937.5 millibars, according to the most recent reconnaissance data, a drop of 6 millibars in less than 2 hours (!). At least one buoy, about 100 miles south of Montauk, NY, is reporting extreme wind gusts equivalent to Category 3 strength, although I have some doubts about that data. Regardless, the recon planes flying over the storm have measured increasing wind speeds near the center, prompting the NHC to estimate that Sandy now has 90 mph sustained winds at the surface. That suggests we could see a few 100+ mph gusts right on the coast. This is presently closer to a Category 2 hurricane than it is to a tropical storm.

Sandy is pushing an enormous storm surge toward the heavily populated coastline, well ahead of its center, as it makes the long-forecast sharp left turn that will force the full brunt of this uniquely destructive storm directly into the mid-Atlantic coast. More specifically, it now appears that Sandy will hit South Jersey or Delaware Bay this evening around 8:00 PM local time. Check out the NCEP NAM model forecast from WeatherBell:

[Mase]

Don't know about Broadway, but I'm certain there's a break where Seven Presidents Park used to be.

Here's a shot from Monmouth Beach earlier today and at low tide:

And here's one of Sea Bright.

I'm guessing the Sea Bright peninsula is totally under water. I can't get anyone I know there to answer their phone to confirm.

[Mase]

And here's a great shot of Ocean Grove from yesterday. I wonder if that pier is there today or if it's driftwood.

[Coleus]

Unbelievable, it was like a tsunami rushing in.