1991 perfect storm vs Frankenstorm [VIDEO]. The 1991 Perfect Storm, also known as the Halloween Nor'easter of 1991, was a nor'easter that absorbed Hurricane Grace and ultimately evolved into a small hurricane late in its life cycle.
The initial area of low pressure developed off Atlantic Canada on October 28. The storm lashed the East Coast of the United States with high waves and coastal flooding, before turning to the southwest and weakening.
On November 1 the system evolved into a full-fledged hurricane with peak winds of 75 miles per hour (120 km/h), although the National Hurricane Center left it unnamed to avoid confusion amid media interest in the predecessor extratropical storm. It later received the name "the Perfect Storm" after a conversation between Boston National Weather Service forecaster Robert Case and author Sebastian Junger. The system was the fourth hurricane and final tropical cyclone in the 1991 Atlantic hurricane season. The tropical system weakened, striking Nova Scotia as a tropical storm before dissipating.
Damage from the Perfect Storm totaled over $200 million (1991 USD) and the death toll was thirteen. Most of the damage occurred while the storm was extratropical, after waves up to 30 feet (10 m) struck the coastline from Canada to Florida and southeastward to Puerto Rico.
Aside from tidal flooding along rivers, the storm's effects were primarily concentrated along the coast.
The new Frankenstorm (Hurricane Sandy), a category 2 storm with winds of 105 mph, is churning north through toward the Bahamas this morning and is a key player in just how bad the weather will be from Sunday into mid-week on the east coast.
Forecasters at the National Weather Service warn that Sandy is forecast to track north up the eastern seaboard and potentially merge with a developing nor’easter, creating a powerful hybrid storm that has the potential to have devastating impacts along the Mid-Atlantic and New England coastlines.
The most recent National Hurricane Center guidance puts this "Frankenstorm" off the New Jersey coast, with winds of at least 70 miles per hour, on Tuesday morning.
A myriad of scenarios for how the situation will unfold exists, according to forecast guidance. Major coastal flooding, hurricane force winds and torrential rain are all distinct possibilities.
