MANSFIELD: National Weather Service warns ‘dangerous Hurricane Sandy’ en route

This article has been updated from its original publication of 9:27 p.m. Oct. 28

By Jen Samuel, Managing Editor
   MANSFIELD — The Northern Burlington County Regional School District has cancelled classes on Monday and Tuesday, ahead of the impending arrival of Hurricane Sandy.
   The massive storm is traveling north up the East Coast and is slated to turn toward land on Monday, Oct. 29. 
   The National Weather Service warned on Sunday that the very large and dangerous Hurricane Sandy was continuing to move parallel to the East Coast, with a turn to the northwest expected tonight and early Monday.
 The NWS has issued high wind and coastal flood warnings, a flood watch and hazardous weather outlook for the townships of Mansfield and Springfield.
      According to an 8 p.m. advisory issued by the NWS, Sandy is expected to bring life-threatening storm surge flooding to the New York Harbor, as well as coastal hurricane winds and heavy Appalachian snows.
   The storm is anticipated to impact 60 million Americans.
  Sandy is expected to make landfall along the central New Jersey coast Monday evening, the NWS said.
      Noteworthy, there will be a full moon Monday night, which creates high tides along coastal shores.
   Gov. Chris Christie on Saturday declared a state of emergency throughout New Jersey ahead of Hurricane Sandy reaching the Garden State.
   ”I am urging all New Jerseyans to take every possible and reasonable precaution to ready themselves for the storm’s potential impact,” Gov. Chris Christie said.
   Across America, Hurricane Sandy is being referred to as Frankenstorm.
   Hurricane Sandy is set to merge with a freezing cold front from the west and as well as Arctic air from the north, according to the Associated Press. Hence its name — Frankenstorm.
   From New York to Pennsylvania, bottled water was sold out at many businesses over the weekend, and some stations were out of gasoline Sunday.
   Mansfield Township has issued Hurricane Sandy warnings online.
   As of Sunday evening, the NWS forecast 65-mph winds on Monday night in Mansfield. Rainfall is slated for New Jersey throughout the week, with the heaviest rainfall predicated for the area on Monday.
   State offices will be closed on Monday, as will New Jersey Transit lines, the governor announced on Sunday.
   Hurricane Sandy will hit New Jersey 14 months after Hurricane Irene brought historic flooding to municipalities throughout the state.
   According to the Office of the Governor, “Drivers are advised to drive with caution, follow the rules of the road, stay alert and respect the weather elements that may impact their drive. Unnecessary travel is not recommended.”
For more information, visit www.weather.gov or www.state.nj.us.
   
Motorists may check current road conditions via the New Jersey Department of Transportation, www.NJ511.info.