Could Hurricane Sandy Hit New York, New Jersey and the North East Coast? [UPDATE]

A topical system that's brewing in the Caribbean could effect the Northeastern United States by late this weekend, according to forecasters.  Sandy may be on the way to portions of New York or New Jersey.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Tropical Storm Sandy is south of Jamaica and threatening the island nation with hurricane force winds then venturing further north to Cuba, according to weather.com as a possible category 1 storm.

Other than potential hurricane-force winds in Jamaica and eastern Cuba as the center nears those locations, another major threat from Sandy will be heavy rain, flash flooding, and mudslides, generally to the north and east of the center's track.

After winding through the Greater Antilles, Sandy might drift out to open waters. Or it could, according to a European computer model, veer on a more northerly path and affect the northeast coast of the United States.  That's the scenario depicted in the graphic above.

It's still to early as of Tuesday afternoon to forecast with any certainty a track for this storm.

UPDATE 3:45 Wednesday 10/24

It's still a major question mark as to whether Sandy will affect the northeast or churn harmlessly out to sea.

However, there will be portions of the US Mainland under the gun.  South Florida is currently under a Tropical Storm Watch.

A new forecast model paints an interesting picture for Sandy's center of circulation heading right over Central New York.

The National Weather Service is advising of a potentially major weather event for the coastal North East from Sunday through Tuesday.  From the NWS's most recent 3:40PM advisory:

THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A MAJOR
COASTAL STORM WITH HEAVY RAINFALL...HIGH WINDS...COASTAL FLOODING
AND BEACH EROSION. THIS WILL ULTIMATELY DEPEND ON THE EVENTUAL
TRACK AND EVOLUTION OF TROPICAL CYCLONE SANDY AS IT INTERACTS WITH
A DEEPENING UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM APPROACHING THE EAST
COAST. THE STORM MAY VERY WELL JUST MOVE OUT TO SEA...AND HAVE
LITTLE IF ANY IMPACT ON OUR WEATHER.

[Source:  Weather.com]