The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a High Wind Warning for Lincoln County in regard to Hurricane Sandy, upgrading the alert status from a High Wind Watch.
A High Wind Warning means that a hazardous wind event is expected or occurring.
Easterly winds with a sustained velocity of 30 to 40 mph and gusts to 60 mph are presently forecast for Lincoln County, with the strongest winds expected Monday afternoon and into the night, according to the NWS.
There is the potential for minor structural damage is near the coast, where winds will be strongest, according to the NWS. Widespread power outages caused by trees and limbs knocked down by the wind are also possible, according to the NWS.
The High Wind Warning is in effect from 2 p.m. Monday until 8 a.m. on Tuesday, according to the NWS.
The NWS has also upgraded a Coastal Flood Watch to a Coastal Flood Warning. The storm surge at high tide on Monday is forecast to be 3 to 4-feet, according to the NWS. The morning high tide for Boothbay is forecast 9.7- feet at 10:44 a.m. and night tide is 9.1-feet at 11:12 p.m. The morning tide for Wiscasset is forecast at 10.2-feet at 11:06 a.m. and the night tide 9.7 at 11:34 p.m. (Tides according to charts at maineboats.com.)
Hurricane Sandy is forecast to come ashore near Ocean City, New Jersey Monday evening, possibly still as a category 1 storm, according to the NWS.
Outer bands of high winds are forecast to extend well north of the storm center, bringing heavy weather to Lincoln County from Monday afternoon through Tuesday morning, according to the NWS.
Rain, heavy at times, is also in the forecast, beginning as showers on Monday, intensifying Monday night through Tuesday then winding down by Wednesday morning, according to the NWS.
The Lincoln County Emergency Management Agency (LCEMA) urges residents to check drainage runoffs on their property to ensure that they are not blocked by fallen leaves, a condition that may cause flooding.
The Lincoln County News website will continue to follow the progress of this event, with constant coverage beginning Monday, extending into the night-time hours, and continuing on Tuesday. Any additional information will be posted here as soon as it becomes available.
