Hurricane Sandy: Toronto’s blue sky a brief break before storm’s remnants hit city

Much of Toronto woke up to a gloriously blue sky Tuesday morning after Superstorm Sandymeted out punishment on New York and New Jersey last night, a bizarrely sunny contrast with the images of flooding, fire, and general destruction dominating the morning news.

Sandy leaves death, darkness in its wake

But the sunshine is deceptive, says Geoff Coulson, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada.

“We’re in a bit of a break,” he said. Toronto can expect more bad weather throughout the day as Sandy, diminished somewhat but still dangerous, spins off “bits and pieces” of storm.

While the total amount of precipitation expected for the city is less than 5 mm, the rain will be unpredictable. The GTA will get a pocket of rainfall before noon and periodic bursts of shower activity throughout the day.

Sandy’s core is currently over lower Michigan and Ohio, and even down into Virginia. “They’re really getting the worst of it at this point,” said Coulson.

The storm is expected to track over Pennsylvania by late this afternoon and then drift into Ontario by Wednesday morning.

Sandy will pass directly over Kingston if its forecasted path is correct, but the storm will be much less powerful at that point. That means the GTA will see stormy bursts of weather until late Thursday.

“The peak really was last night,” said Coulson.

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1279584--hurricane-sandy-toronto-s-blue-sky-a-brief-break-before-storm-s-remnants-hit-city