This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20133158

The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Storm Sandy causes severe flooding in eastern US Storm Sandy causes severe flooding in eastern US
(about 2 hours later)
A major storm bringing torrential rain, high winds, flood surges and heavy snow has made landfall on the east US coast. "Super-storm" Sandy has swept across the eastern US coast, bringing heavy rain, high winds and severe flooding.
Sandy, now a post-tropical cyclone, passed over the New Jersey coast at about 20:00 local time (midnight GMT), packing winds of about 80mph (129km/h). Sandy made landfall in New Jersey, causing a record surge of seawater in New York City, flooding car and subway tunnels and leaving much of lower Manhattan without power.
An estimated 50 million people could be affected, with hundreds of thousands ordered to evacuate homes. More than 1.5 million people have lost power. It has been blamed for 10 deaths so far across several states.
Transport has halted in eastern cities, and thousands of flights are grounded. An estimated 50 million people could be affected, with up to one million ordered to evacuate homes.
A record 13ft (4-metre) surge of seawater was measured in New York City, where large parts of lower Manhattan were plunged into darkness by power cuts and there were reports of some subway tunnels flooding. Some 3 million are without electricity but the full extent of the damage caused by Sandy may not be known until daybreak.
The storm had earlier killed dozens of people as it passed through the Caribbean, mainly in Haiti. Public transport has been halted in several eastern cities, and thousands of flights have been grounded.
Tree kills NY man Both President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney cancelled campaign appearances little more than a week before the presidential election.
In the US, it threatens an 800-mile (1,290-km) swathe of coast, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes in the Mid-West. The storm made landfall close to Atlantic City in New Jersey at about 20:00 local time (midnight GMT), packing winds of more than 80mph (129km/h).
Sandy lost its hurricane status late on Monday as it neared the coast and collided with winter weather systems, but was still generating hurricane-strength winds. Much of Atlantic City was underwater, and 30,000 residents were evacuated.
It made landfall close to Atlantic City, New Jersey. Much of the city was underwater, and 30,000 residents were evacuated. America's oldest nuclear power plant, Oyster Creek in New Jersey, was put on alert due to rising water, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission said.
In New York, some 375,000 residents were ordered out of lower Manhattan and other areas, as the Hudson and East rivers began overflowing their banks. 'Lower Manhattan covered'
One man in the New York borough of Queens was killed when a tree fell on his home, firefighters said. Sandy threatens an 800-mile (1,290-km) swathe of the US, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes in the Mid-West.
It lost its hurricane status late on Monday as it neared the coast and collided with winter weather systems, but was still generating hurricane-strength winds.
In New York, some 375,000 residents were ordered out of lower Manhattan and other areas, as the Hudson and East rivers began overflowing.
"Lower Manhattan is being covered by seawater," Howard Glaser, director of operations for the New York state government, was quoted as saying. "I am not exaggerating. Seawater is rushing into the Battery Tunnel."
Battery Tunnel links Manhattan with Long Island.
A spokesman for the city's main utility provider said some 250,000 customers in Manhattan had been left without power.A spokesman for the city's main utility provider said some 250,000 customers in Manhattan had been left without power.
There were reports of an explosion at a Consolidated Edison power station on the east side of Manhattan, but these have not been confirmed.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the storm surge was higher than the highest forecast, but he expected the waters to start receding from midnight local time.
Back-up power at New York University hospital had failed and authorities were trying to get people out, he said.
Elsewhere in the city, the storm left a construction crane bent double next to a skyscraper and caused the facade off a four-storey building to collapse.
Trading on the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will stay suspended for a second day on Tuesday. The United Nations headquarters in New York has also been closed.Trading on the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will stay suspended for a second day on Tuesday. The United Nations headquarters in New York has also been closed.
Both President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney cancelled campaign appearances little more than a week before the presidential election. Associated Press reported 10 deaths in New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Connecticut - several due to fallen trees.
Forecasters have said Sandy could linger over as many as 12 states for 24-36 hours.
President Obama declared emergencies in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
In Washington DC, federal government offices were to be closed until Wednesday.In Washington DC, federal government offices were to be closed until Wednesday.
Public transport was suspended in the US capital, New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Boston.Public transport was suspended in the US capital, New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Boston.
Amtrak has suspended passenger train services across the north-east, while nearly 14,000 flights were cancelled, according to Flightaware.com.Amtrak has suspended passenger train services across the north-east, while nearly 14,000 flights were cancelled, according to Flightaware.com.
Forecasters say Sandy could linger over as many as 12 states for 24-36 hours.
Up to 3ft (91cm) of snow is expected to fall on the Appalachian mountains in West Virginia, Virginia and Kentucky.Up to 3ft (91cm) of snow is expected to fall on the Appalachian mountains in West Virginia, Virginia and Kentucky.
The disaster estimating firm Eqecat has forecast that Sandy could cause economic losses to the US of between $10bn and $20bn (£6.2bn-£12.4bn).
Sandy had earlier killed dozens of people as it passed through the Caribbean, mainly in Haiti.
Path of Hurricane Sandy
The enhanced content on this page requires Javascript and Flash Player 9

Map Key

  • Land
  • Cloud
  • Lakes, Rivers & Sea

Fog

Light Heavy

Frost

Light Heavy

Pressure Fronts

Cold Warm Occluded

Rain

Light Heavy Extreme

Snow

Light Heavy
Temperature tab only

Temperature (°C)

More details from BBC Weather
Are you in the path of Hurricane Sandy or have you already been affected by it? You can send us your experiences using the form below.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
Read the terms and conditions