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Local officials are urging residents to prepare for Hurricane Sandy, which is expected to affect Connecticut early next week.
This hurricane will meet up with a storm system from the west and cold air from the north to produce what is being called a "Frankenstorm." It has drawn comparisons to "The Perfect Storm" of 1991 and could actually be worse.
Although nor'easters are not uncommon, it is unusual for a hurricane to be part of the mix.
NBC Connecticut meteorologist Ryan Hanrahan says although most hurricanes weaken as they travel north into colder water, Sandy could be different. "This storm's actually going to strengthen a little bit because it's going to get enveloped by the jet stream," said Hanrahan. "It does not happen very often where the storm can actually pick up steam before landfall. We have not seen many cases like that ever."
It's been almost exactly a year since the October snowstorm knocked out power to thousands of residents for days. Fortunately, Hanrahan says there will be no snow with this storm.
But flooding is a concern, especially around the shoreline where the tide will already be "astronomically high." Residents along the coastline should begin preparing for the possibility of significant flooding.
Inland residents should also prepare for flooding from rivers and high winds.
Connecticut Light & Power is preparing for extensive power outages and bringing in crews from the midwest. "We have requested about 2,000 additional line crews and about 700 tree crews to help with, if some of the forecasts are correct, an extensive amount of tree damage," said CL&P spokesman Frank Poirot.
CL&P was harshly criticized last year for its handling of a rare October snowstorm that left some state residents without power for two weeks.
