Today: Increasingly heavy rain and high winds
Highs: Near 50°
Wind: NW 35-45, Gusts to 50 mph

Tonight: Heavy rain and possibly damaging winds

Lows: around 50 degrees

Wind: NW 30-40 mph, Gusts to 60 mph

Tomorrow: Rainy, Windy & Raw
Highs: Upper 40s
Wind: West 30-40, Gusts to 60 mph

At 8 a.m. EDT, Hurricane “Sandy” is located about 265 miles southeast of Atlantic City and has made the turn to the north-northwest. It will turn more northwesterly and then more westerly before landfall. It remains a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph.

The heavy rain from Sandy are affecting the metro area. The rain and wind will increase in intensity with gusts of near hurricane force at times late tonight. The storm has a massive wind field with tropical storm force winds extending almost miles from the center of circulation. During the day Sandy may get a bit stronger before it begins its transition to the post-tropical super-storm that is already re-writing the weather history books. Landfall will occur late tonight along the New Jersey Coast.

We expect the most damaging winds of 70 mph  and heaviest rain to occur later tonight through Tuesday morning, resulting in widespread power outages.Wind gusts over 80 mpg will be experienced on the top floors of high rise buildings along the I 95 corridor. There could be 4-8 inches of rainfall, with locally higher amounts possible, before the storm departs late Tuesday.

 The strongest winds will be blowing from the north, northwest, west and eventually southwest during the duration of the storm. This is an off-shore direction and will therefore limit any tidal surges. The worst tidal surges will be along the Atlantic Coast from New Jersey to New England.

On air and on-line. Our team of ABC 7 and Newschannel 8 meteorologists and reporters will be with you every step of the way.