Pat Shingleton for Monday, Oct. 29, 2012

Sunday’s column noted the anniversary of “The Perfect Storm.” Today, Hurricane Sandy will be closely monitored for its landfall. As Hurricane Grace and an offshore low-pressure system caused extensive damage and became known as the Halloween Storm 21 years ago, Sandy could create tidal surges, flooding, massive power outages and a winter storm. Hurricane-force winds nailed New England with the highest tides since the Great Atlantic Hurricane of ’44 in 1991. Northeasterners are acclimated to “nor’easters,” a cyclonic storm on the East Coast of where coastal winds originate from the northeast and occur between September and April. Complicating this storm are leaves. Trees holding fall foliage will be coated with thick, wet snow causing limbs to snap and additional power outages. Inland snow could spread west to Pittsburgh. Fastcast: Cool.