Update on Hurricane Sandy at 8 AM on Thursday, October 25, 2012

The latest 8 AM update indicates that Hurricane Sandy is a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph with higher gusts. It is located about 75 miles northeast of Holguin, Cuba and is moving to the north at 18 mph. The storm is expected to turn more to the north-northwest and decrease its forward speed. Up to 20 inches of rain can fall near the storm's center.  By 2 AM on Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center's forecast track is taking the storm closer to the coast east about 250 miles east of Maryland.  Here is a portion of the latest bulletin:

HURRICANE SANDY INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 12A 
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 
800 AM EDT THU OCT 25 2012 
...SANDY MOVING BETWEEN THE NORTHEAST COAST OF CUBA AND THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS...
SUMMARY OF 800 AM EDT...1200 UTC...INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------- 
LOCATION...21.6N 75.5W ABOUT 130 MI...215 KM S OF GREAT EXUMA IN THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS ABOUT 75 MI...125 KM NE OF HOLGUIN CUBA 
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...105 MPH...165 KM/H 
PRESENT MOVEMENT...N OR 10 DEGREES AT 18 MPH...30 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...967 MB...28.55 INCHES 

A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR... * CUBAN PROVINCES OF CAMAGUEY...LAS TUNAS...GRANMA...SANTIAGO DE CUBA...HOLGUIN...AND GUANTANAMO * THE RAGGED ISLANDS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS * THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS * THE NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR... * HAITI * FLORIDA EAST COAST FROM OCEAN REEF TO FLAGLER BEACH * LAKE OKEECHOBEE * THE REMAINDER OF THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR... * FLORIDA EAST COAST FROM NORTH OF FLAGLER BEACH TO FERNANDINA BEACH * FLORIDA UPPER KEYS FROM OCEAN REEF TO CRAIG KEY * FLORIDA BAY INTERESTS ELSEWHERE ALONG THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF SANDY. 

George Wright is a Certified Consulting Meteorologist for Wright Weather Consulting, LLC. George is also a meteorologist with ABC News and Cablevision News 12. Our website is WrightWeather.com.