East Coast braces for Hurricane Sandy

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (AP-WAVY-TV) - Hurricane Sandy continues to head northeast while high wind watches and warnings remain in effect for the Mid-Atlantic states and Southern New England.

Latest maps, wind speeds and track of Sandy.

Sunday morning, the National Hurricane Center had the storm with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph moving northeast at 10 mph. A tropical storm warning remains in effect from South Carolina to Duck, N.C. Forecasters expect significant storm surge.

The National Weather Service in Wakefield has issued a coastal flood warning from 6 a.m. Sunday to midnight Monday for Virginia Beach and Currituck, N.C. The NWS expects severe coastal flooding during the Monday morning high tide cycle.

Photos: Hurricane Sandy

Emergency shelters opened in Hampton and Norfolk Saturday night. Both Portsmouth and Virginia Beach will open shelters on Sunday.

Virginia Beach, Portsmouth and Norfolk have opened parking garages to residents

The National Hurricane Center said Saturday morning that a Hurricane Hunter aircraft found Sandy had sustained winds powerful enough to upgrade it to a Category 1 hurricane. It had been downgraded to a tropical storm just hours earlier.

Meteorologist Don Slater says Hampton Roads residents should expect windy conditions starting Sunday evening because of Sandy's huge windfield. The storm is expected to loop to the east late Sunday and early Monday then turn northwest toward New England and Hampton Roads Monday, bringing tidal flooding and heavy winds.

Because of the slow movement of the storm, it will last several high tides which will push the water back toward the coast. Officials are preparing for "massive flooding."

The Newport News fire chief says he is prepared to pay city staff overtime to wait for Sandy to pass through the area.

Va. Gov. Bob McDonnell issued a State of Emergency Friday afternoon.

"We are issuing this state of emergency today as a precautionary measure in order to ensure that we are ready for any potential effects of Hurricane Sandy in the Commonwealth," McDonnell said in a news release.

The City of Norfolk has also declared a state of emergency according to city spokeswoman Lori Crouch.

Due to the impending storm, the Navy has ordered all installations in the Hampton Roads area to set "Tropical Cyclone Condition Three." This means destructive winds greater than 50 knots are expected within 48 hours.

Preparations by the Navy include securing hazards, removing debris and sandbagging areas.

Workers in Norfolk and Newport News are cleaning storm drains and officials in Dare County expect significant sand erosion.

VDOT officials say they are closely watching the storm as well, and in case Sandy does make landfall in Hampton Roads, crews will work to open any closed roads as quickly as possible.

Dare County authorities are concerned about a potential loss of N.C. 12 in the Outer Banks due to overwash.

FEMA recommends all residents properly secure outdoor furnishings, trash cans and any loose items, and start putting together a hurricane preparedness kit, including non-perishable food items and water for a few days.

Stay with WAVY News on air and online as further updates become available.