PHILADELPHIA -
While there is still some uncertainty with the forecast, the National Weather Service says the latest storm track for Hurricane Sandy "poses a direct threat to our region."
The likelihood of the storm swinging toward the mid-Atlantic coast has increased, and the National Hurricane Center's five-day forecast cone shows the storm's center could be just off the New Jersey's coast by Tuesday morning.
Forecasters say the storm could retain tropical characteristics and pack 70-mph sustained winds with higher gusts as it approaches, noting that this is "a very dangerous scenario."
Among the potential threats are strong, damaging winds, extremely heavy rainfall, major flooding along streams and rivers,and major coastal flooding (a full moon occurs on Monday).
Hurricane Sandy is staying strong after crossing Cuba during its second landfall early Thursday morning.
As of 11 p.m., Sandy is now a Category 1 storm with maximum sustained winds down to 90 mph and now moving NNW @ 13 mph. The storm is about 940 miles south of Cape May, New Jersey.
The storm pounded Jamaica as a category-one storm on Wednesday, stranding travelers and destroying homes. Two people were killed as a result of the wind and rain.
The storm is now threatening the Bahamas and tropical storm conditions along the east coast of Florida.
A majority of the computer-generated "spaghetti models" now have the storm reaching the U.S. East Coast. Five now forecast landfall between the Delmarva Peninsula and Long Island, N.Y.
The closer the storm is to the coast, the stronger the winds will be and the more rainfall we could receive.
CHECK: Latest MyFOXHurricane.com "Spaghetti Models"
In North Wildwood, workers are speeding up their beach replenishment project. Viewer Dennis Doole sent us pictures of the work in progress. Crews would like to get as much done as they, in case Sandy strikes the region.
The Weather Authority will have the latest update on the storm's track all day long. Click on the forecast video in the upper-right corner of this story page to see more.
From left to right, a side-by-side comparison of Hurricane Irene's path in 2011 and Hurricane Sandy's path (as of Thursday) in 2012. (Images courtesy of NOAA)
