Boston braces for hybrid storm

Boston is preparing for what could be one of the worst storms New England has seen in years as Hurricane Sandy makes its way north along the U.S. coast.

New England could meet brutal winds and rain Monday night in what forecasters are calling “Frankenstorm.” Hurricane Sandy is projected to collide with the Midwest nor’easter, potentially causing widespread damage to the region.

New England is expected to face moderate to widespread damage Monday night, depending on where in mid-Atlantic region the hurricane makes landfall, said National Weather Service meteorologist Alan Dunham.

“Based on the current forecast, southern New England will see moderate impact from Sandy,” he said. “If it goes further north, we will see a lot of coastal beach erosions, scattered power outages.”

Boston is expected to face moderate damage, including power outages and possible flooding, Dunham said. If the hurricane makes landfall north of Cape May, the region could see outages on a much wider level, as well as coastal flooding, heavy rainfall and extensive erosion on the south and east coasts.

As of 8 a.m. Friday, Hurricane Sandy was passing through the Great Abaco Island in the northern Bahamas and is expected to travel up the East Coast of the U.S. over the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

The hurricane left 21 people dead as it passed through the Caribbean, according to the Associated Press.

Media projections are comparing the impact of Hurricane Sandy to that of the Great New England Hurricane of 1938, which killed 600 people and caused extensive damage as it struck southern NEw England.

While the forecasts predict potential damage, Dunham said, Hurricane Sandy is not likely to reach the same levels as the 1938 hurricane.

“Sandy’s not going to be a major hurricane,” he said. “It will be a hurricane. People need to really keep up on the forecast.”

City agencies and utility providers are monitoring the storm to determine what precautions to take, said Christina Maryland, spokeswoman for the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management.

“It’s a pretty big storm,” said Christina Maryland, spokeswoman for the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management. “It’s because it’s so late in the hurricane season, and it’s getting cold.”

NSTAR plans to have crews and personnel standing by when the storm hits, spokesman Timothy Ceurvels said.

“According to the National Weather Service, we’re going to be affected by rains and winds,” Ceurvels said. “We’re just not sure to what extent it will be by the hurricane.”

Ceurvels said Boston residents can track outages on the map available on the NSTAR website. NSTAR also offers tools on its website for customers to report outages or give other concerns, as well as updates on Twitter (@NSTAR_News).

Residents can receive emergency alerts from the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management by signing up for Alert Boston on their phones or by following the service on Twitter (@AlertBoston), Maryland said.

“It [the storm] is still pretty far out, so we’re not sure what the impact is going to be, but we’re telling residents to stay prepared,” Maryland added.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency recommended that residents beware of strong winds, power outages, flooding and other threats as Hurricane Sandy reaches New England, according to a press release.

MEMA advises residents to remove outdoor items that could be picked up by strong winds, strap outdoor sheds or playhouses, create family-disaster kit, cover windows and sliding doors and keep doors and windows locked.

“Early planning and preparation can be the key to your safety,” said MEMA Director Kurt Schwartz.  “It is important to use your time wisely and not wait until the last minute to ensure your family’s safety.”