The weather monster that U.S. forecasters call "Frankenstorm" was looking more ominous by the hour for the East Coast on Friday. 
 
 A surfer rides a large wave at the inlet in Boynton Beach, Fla. late Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2012. Hurricane Sandy was expected to churn through the central and northwest Bahamas late Thursday and early Friday.... (Associated Press) 
 
 This NOAA satellite image taken Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012, provided by the National Hurricane Center shows a Category 2 Hurricane Sandy moving northward across eastern Cuba. All the spare parts appear... (Associated Press) 
 
 This NOAA satellite image taken Thursday, October 25, 2012 at 10:45 AM EDT shows Hurricane Sandy over the Bahamas with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph and moving toward the north. Farther north, a... (Associated Press) 
 
 Meteorologists expect a natural horror show of high wind, heavy rain, extreme tides and maybe snow for several days beginning early Sunday, peaking with the arrival of Hurricane Sandy on Tuesday. 
 
 "It's looking like a very serious storm that could be historic," said Jeff Masters, meteorology director of the forecasting service Weather Underground. 
 
 With a rare mix of three big merging weather systems over a densely populated region, experts predict at least $1 billion in damage. 
 
 Hurricane Sandy, having blown through Haiti and Cuba and leaving at least 40 dead across the Caribbean, continues to barrel north as the lowest category hurricane. A wintry storm is moving across the U.S. from the west. And frigid air is streaming south from Canada. 
 
 If they meet Tuesday morning around New York or New Jersey, as forecasters predict, they could create a big, wet mess that settles over the nation's most heavily populated corridor and reaches as far west as Ohio. 
 
 Government forecasters said there is a 90 percent chance _ up from 60 percent two days earlier _ that the East Coast will get pounded. 
 
 The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Friday that wherever the storm comes ashore, there will be 10 inches (254 millimeters) of rain and extreme storm surges. Up to 2 feet (0.6 meters) of snow should fall on West Virginia, with lighter snow in parts of Ohio and Pennsylvania. 
 
 "It's going to be a long-lasting event, two to three days of impact for a lot of people," said James Franklin, forecast chief for the National Hurricane Center. 
 
 Some have compared the tempest to the so-called Perfect Storm that struck off the coast of New England in 1991, but that one hit a less populated area. 
 
 "The Perfect Storm only did $200 million of damage and I'm thinking a billion" this time, Masters said. "Yeah, it will be worse." 
 
 On Friday afternoon, the hurricane's center was about 30 miles (50 kilometers) north-northeast of Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas and 430 miles (695 kilometers) south-southeast of Charleston, South Carolina. Sandy was moving north at 7 mph (11 kph) with maximum sustained winds near 75 mph (120 kph). 
 
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 Associated Press writers Tony Winton in Miami, Fernando Gonzalez in Cuba, Ken Thomas on Air Force One, Michael Rubinkam in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Karen Matthews in New York contributed to this report. 
 
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 Seth Borenstein can be followed at http://twitter.com/borenbears ||||| In the face of a potentially devastating storm, Gov. Cuomo declared a state of emergency Friday and city officials considered evacuating as many as 375,000 New Yorkers. 
 
 
 
 The MTA was also considering a total shut down of buses and subways if the worst predictions about Hurricane Sandy come true. 
 
 
 
 The deadly tempest, which killed at least 41 people in the Caribbean, according to The Associated Press, is expected to make landfall late Monday night near Delaware. 
 
 NEW YORKERS: CLICK HERE TO SEE WHETHER YOU LIVE IN A HURRICANE EVACUATION ZONE 
 
 Mayor Bloomberg said he’d make a decision about evacuations in low-lying areas in all five boroughs as soon as Saturday. 
 
 
 
 “We are taking all the steps that we need to take,�? Bloomberg said during a hastily called afternoon press conference on Friday. 
 
 Franklin Reyes/AP 
 
 Gilbert Bellamy/Reuters 
 
 “But the storm is moving at a rate that we’re still not going to have a good sense of when and where it’s going to hit land.�? 
 
 
 
 MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota said officials would begin the second shutdown of all buses and subways in its history if winds reach 39 mph. 
 
 
 
 “Our first priority is always safety, and the MTA is taking no chances with the safety of our customers, our employees and our equipment,�? Lhota said in a statement. “We are hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. Whatever happens, we’ll be ready.�? 
 
 
 
 Parts of the subway that are below sea level are particularly susceptible to flooding. 
 
 
 
 The MTA halted the subways for the first time in its history during Hurricane Irene last year. 
 
 Desmond Boylan/Reuters 
 
 Carl Juste/The Miami Herald via AP 
 
 Hurricane Irene was downgraded to a tropical storm before reaching the city but dire predictions in the days before it arrived triggered mandatory evacuations of lower Manhattan and other coastal neighborhoods. 
 
 
 
 With some forecasts predicting that Sandy could deliver an even more powerful punch, the city is again considering those extreme measures. 
 
 
 
 “The thing that we worry about the most is that people decide not to listen to the order to evacuate and then later on find themselves in harm’s way and then our police and fire departments have to put their lives on the line,�? Bloomberg said. 
 
 
 
 City officials ordered construction crews to halt work as of Saturday evening and warned residents to prepare “go-bags�? equipped with water and First Aid kits. 
 
 
 
 Officials were also deciding whether to cancel school on Monday. 
 
 Bryan Smith for New York Daily News 
 
 Another major concern is “prolonged power outages,�? Bloomberg said, and the city is working closely with ConEd. 
 
 
 
 “There are probably 20 different forecasts tracts for this storm and any one of them could be right,�? Bloomberg said. 
 
 
 
 City Health Commissioner Thomas Farley said the city was asking six hospitals and 41 chronic care facilities, including nursing homes, in the low-lying areas to move patients who could be easily relocated. 
 
 nhc.noaa.gov 
 
 The city could decide to evacuate the facilities using city buses as it did during Irene. 
 
 
 
 Cuomo declared a state of emergency for all 62 counties and said at a Long Island event that the state was taking “every precaution possible.�? 
 
 
 
 A state of emergency gives the state more flexibility to help cities and counties. Cuomo also put the National Guard on alert, which makes Guard personnel and equipment available to help. 
 
 Julia Xanthos/New York Daily News 
 
 He also said he will call up repair crews and reach out to other states that may have crews available. 
 
 
 
 The state is also asking for a pre-disaster declaration that would get New York federal aid and assistance, he said. 
 
 Carl Juste/The Miami Herald via AP 
 
 
 
 Steve Nesius/Reuters 
 
 “There’s no need to panic,�? he said. “We have a lot of time and we’re prepared for any eventuality, but we’d rather err on the side of caution.�? 
 
 
 
 Cuomo canceled plans to campaign in Florida for President Obama so he could stay in New York. He also scrapped a homeland security conference scheduled for Monday in Albany so the 1,000 first responders who planned to attend could prepare for the storm in their home counties. 
 
 
 
 A host of other events were canceled as the storm loomed, including an exam for specialized high schools admissions scheduled for Sunday.With News Wire Services 
 
 
 
 With News Wire Services 
 
 tmoore@nydailynews.com ||||| A fast-strengthening Hurricane Sandy veered left on a path to the East Coast Monday. All airlines serving Dulles International Airport and Reagan National Airport cancelled service, and major school systems - including D.C. public schools and Montgomery County, Md. schools - cancelled Tuesday classes. 
 
 The nation’s capital shut down rail service for the first time since 2003, and shortly after noon President Barack Obama weighed in. 
 
 "This is gonna be a big storm, this is gonna be a difficult storm," Obama said in a press conference in the White House briefing room. He also praised state and municipal crews for coordinating to meet needs as they arise. 
 
 "Please listen to what your state and local officials are saying," Obama said, striking a cautionary tone. He encouraged people under evacuation orders to take the orders seriously. 
 
 Web Weather Forecast 10/29/12 Mid-Day 
 
 Get the latest forecast from Storm Team 4 Meteorologist Veronica Johnson. (Published Monday, Oct. 29, 2012) 
 
 "Don't pause, don't question," Obama said. "This is a serious storm and could potentially have fatal consequences if people aren't acting quickly." 
 
 In a similar statement, Maryland’s governor warned his state was in the “crosshairs” of what would likely prove to be a deadly storm. 
 
 "There will be people who die and are killed in this storm," Gov. Martin O'Malley said during a morning press conference. 
 
 O'Malley said flooding from the Chesapeake Bay could be worse than expected because of winds pushing water up into the bay and urged Marylanders to stay off the roads for the next 36 hours. 
 
 As of 2 p.m. Monday, Hurricane Sandy was about 200 miles northeast of D.C., with hurricane-force winds extending outward up to 175 miles. 
 
 The center of the storm is expected to hit southern New Jersey around 5 p.m. Monday, with winds of greater than 90 mph. 
 
 Flood Preparations in Alexandria 
 
 Residents in flood-prone Alexandria are sandbagging ahead of Hurricane Sandy. News4's Julie Carey reports. (Published Monday, Oct. 29, 2012) 
 
 Sandy inflicted considerable damage overnight to Ocean’s City’s iconic ocean pier. In mountainous western Maryland, a blizzard warning was issued for sections of Garrett County for Monday night into Tuesday morning. 
 
 Up and down the Eastern seaboard, wind is picking up, icy rain is falling, and rescue workers are responding to accidents on local roadways. 
 
 “Let me be clear: This storm is unique, large, dangerous and unlike anything our region has experienced in a very long time,” D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray said. “We are likely to suffer significant power outages due to fallen trees and other debris, and we may experience significant street flooding. Let me also be clear about this: The District government is ready to meet this challenge.” 
 
 WIDESPREAD CLOSURES 
 
 Officials Shut Down Rehoboth Beach Ahead of Sandy 
 
 News4's Wendy Rieger reports from Rehoboth Beach, Del., where officials shut the town down at 8 p.m. Sunday. (Published Monday, Oct. 29, 2012) 
 
 The federal government has closed nonessential offices to the public in the D.C. region Monday due to Hurricane Sandy. The District is among the local governments closing offices at least for Monday. 
 
 Even the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ exchange in New York City said they would close; it was the first weather-related closure of the NYSE in 27 years. 
 
 Metro canceled service for its rail system, buses and Metro Access until further notice. 
 
 Amtrak has now canceled service on its Northeast Corridor through Tuesday. The Maryland Transit Authority followed suit in announcing that no MARC trains nor commuter buses would run Monday, as did VRE. Fairfax Connector service also will be suspended Monday. 
 
 More than 7,000 flights in and out of the East have been canceled. 
 
 A $15 storm surcharge is in effect for all D.C. taxi rides. 
 
 Well before the storm, President Barack Obama declared an emergency in D.C. and ordered federal aid to help the city's response. Obama also canceled a campaign appearance in Orlando and returned to D.C. 
 
 The emergency declaration authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency to allocate resources to alleviate the impacts of Hurricane Sandy at 75 percent emergency funding. 
 
 Even Capital Bikeshare closed temporarily at 1 a.m. Monday. Bikes can be returned, but new rentals won't be allowed until weather conditions allow. 
 
 Among the airlines, Delta, US Airways, United, Virgin and American Airlines announced that they would waive or relax change fees for customers re-booking flights ahead of the storm. United announced Sunday that it had begun canceling some flights to and from all three major regional airports, as well as Richmond, Roanoke and Norfolk. 
 
 Medstar Washington Hospital is open and operational, but ambulatory clinichs and procedure areas will remain closed until noon Tuesday, Oct. 30. 
 
 More cancellations were expected Monday and Tuesday. Passengers are advised to check with their specific airlines to confirm their flight status. 
 
 In Ocean City, police department spokesman Mike Levy said damage to the downton pier happened overnight Sunday, as the storm began to pound the resort town with massive wind and rain. 
 
 The pier is at the southern end of the boardwalk, in an area south of 17th Street that's been under a mandatory evacuation order since Sunday afternoon because of flooding. 
 
 FLOODING, HIGH WINDS EXPECTED: SIGNIFICANT STORM 
 
 Throughout the day Monday, our winds will be steadily increasing to the 30 mph range with gusts of 40-55 mph. As evening begins, the winds will quickly ramp up, blowing steadily out of the northwest at 30-50 mph, with gusts of 50-70 mph. 
 
 Already Monday morning, the Delaware Bay buoy clocked wind gusts of 50 mph. 
 
 The National Weather Service issued a high wind warning for our area in effect until 8 p.m. Tuesday. A flood watch is also in effect until then for most of our area. 
 
 With 5-10 inches of rain expected in much of the D.C. area (3-5 inches further west) and high tides 1-3 feet above normal Monday, flooding is likely in our area, Storm Team 4 meteorologist Doug Kammerer said. 
 
 The full moon is expected to create tidal anomalies of 1-2' along the Tidal Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay. 
 
 The strong north and northwesterly winds Monday will cause a "blow-out" tide along the western shore of the Chesapeake and the Tidal Potomac River, said Storm Team 4 meteorologist Kim Martucci. When our winds swing around to the southwest on Tuesday, the water will be pushed back into the Bay and the Tidal Potomac along the south-facing shores. You should expect the highest tides for most of our area with the Tuesday high tide cycle. 
 
 As Sandy's soaking rains move west, local rivers will be quickly rising. Goose Creek, near Leesburg in Loudoun County, will see major flooding similar to a previous flood on May 12, 2008. 
 
 The Monocacy River near Frederick will also rise above flood stage by early Monday evening, and will crest near 32 feet by early Tuesday afternoon. At 30 feet, water reaches the second floor of Gambrill Mill on the Monocacy National Battlefield. It would be the second highest crest on record and compares to the crest with Hurricane Eloise in 1975. 
 
 Likewise, flood warnings are in effect for the Shenandoah River at Millville, the Rappahannock River at Remington, Opequon Creek near Martinsburg, and the Potomac River at Paw Paw. At Paw Paw, the flood stage is 25 feet and the forecast is a crest of 30.8 feet between Tuesday afternoon and late Wednesday night. This would be the worst crest since 1996. 
 
 This storm is undergoing incredible dynamics in the atmosphere. Hurricane Sandy will interact with a very strong, wintertime jetstream. As a hurricane, Sandy thrives off the energy generated by warm ocean water. When she interacts with the cold Jetstream winds, she’ll become “sub-tropical” and her energy will be generated by the huge temperature differences in the atmosphere. No matter what she is called, this storm will affect folks from Maine down to North Carolina. Wide-spread power outages will keep Sandy in the headlines for days to come. 
 
 The combination of storms will even bring a chance of snow to our area -- just flakes near D.C., but snow was reported in West Virginia as of 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. 
 
 Winter storm watches are in effect for Maryland and West Virginia. 
 
 A coastal flood warning for the Potomac River, the Chesapeake Bay and especially the Atlantic Ocean is in effect from midnight Monday to 8 a.m. Wednesday. 
 
 And the storm will take its time leaving. The weather may not start clearing in the mid-Atlantic until the day after Halloween and Nov. 2 in the upper Northeast, Cisco said. 
 
 "It's almost a week-long, five-day, six-day event," said National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecaster Jim Cisco from a NOAA forecast center in College Park, Md. "It's going to be a widespread, serious storm." 
 
 Some have compared the tempest to the so-called Perfect Storm that struck off the coast of New England in 1991, but that one hit a less populated area. Nor is this one like last year's pre-Halloween storm, which was merely an early snowfall. 
 
 POWER OUTAGES SPREAD 
 
 The expected period of extended winds will raise the threat of extended power outages through next week. 
 
 With a rare mix of three big merging weather systems over a densely populated region, experts say there could be at least $1 billion in damage. 
 
 As of 1:30 p.m. Monday, Dominion Virginia had more than 9,700 customers without power, including nearly 4,500 in Northern Vrigina. 
 
 Pepco was reporting a total of 1,677 outages, with the bulk of those -- 1,357-- in Prince George's County, and 287 in the District. 
 
 BGE repored more than 14,900 outages, with 3,000 of those in Anne Arundel and 1,600 in Howard County. 
 
 SMECO reported 1,914 outages across four counties. 
 
 In his White House statement, Obama warned that crews would have their hands tied until the storm dies down -- meaning that it may take several days for power to come back on. 
 
 PREPARATIONS FOR SANDY 
 
 Supplies flew off the shelves of local supermarkets ahead of the storm. Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell urged Virginians to "please prepare" for what he predicted would be a "unique, long-lasting storm." 
 
 People along the Delmarva Peninsula, including in Ocean City, packed up in advance of a deadline to evacuate by 8 p.m. Sunday. 
 
 In advance of the storm, the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia declared states of emergency. The executive orders clear the path for faster response. 
 
 At the moment, no mandatory evacuations have been ordered in Virginia or Maryland, though McDonnell noted Saturday that his executive order gave local authorities in Virginia the power to order local evacuations if they saw fit. In Maryland, officials in St. Mary's and Charles Counties declared a local state of emergency Saturday. 
 
 Speaking on a conference call Saturday afternoon, Virginia Gov. McDonnell said that the entire Virginia State Police force had been placed on standby. 
 
 Utilities were preparing as well: Pepco requested to bring in an additional 2,500 linemen, 400 tree trimmers and 200 damage assessors from other utilities. Similarly, Dominion Power in Virginia said that it had requested an extra 2,000 workers from outside the state to assist with potential power outages. 
 
 Pepco called some customers late Friday with a recorded message, saying they were closely watching the storm. “We are preparing and we encourage our customers to prepare as well,” the message said. 
 
 Meanwhile, Maryland utility regulators announced Friday that they'd end a controversial policy that allowed power companies to charge customers for lost sales during the first 24 hours of a major power outage. 
 
 Emergency services from throughout the region said they were gearing up, trying to clear storm drains and calling in personnel to be on standby. The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission began moving in generators and topping off their chemical storage tanks. 
 
 Metro began to place sandbags around Metrorail locations prone to flooding. Metro also said that its workers were checking drainage pumping stations and clearing drainage areas of leaves, while additional support personnel were scheduled to be on duty throughout the storm. 
 
 Meanwhile, some federal agencies activated their emergency systems as well, including the Customs and Border Patrol, which activated field coordinators to communicate if needed. 
 
 Interior story image credits: Josh Birch (@jbirch12), Ocean City pier. Kurt Bradshaw (@kurtb) Inner loop accident near Connecticut Avenue. 
 
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– Officials in the northeast declared states of emergency today as Hurricane Sandy and two nasty weather systems moved ominously toward the region, the Daily News and NBC Washington report. New York, DC, Maryland, and Virginia each declared a state of emergency, and New York City said it may evacuate up to 375,000 people before the hurricane arrives Sunday. Sandy—now churning north as the weakest-category hurricane—will likely converge Tuesday with frigid air from Canada and a wintry storm from the west, creating "a very serious storm that could be historic," a meteorologist tells the AP. Forecasters give the East Coast a 90% chance of being hit with extreme tides, harsh wind, heavy rain, and possibly snow for days starting Sunday morning. "It's going to be a long-lasting event, two to three days of impact for a lot of people," says the National Hurricane Center's top forecaster. He compared it to the "Perfect Storm" that lashed New England's coast in 1991: "The Perfect Storm only did $200 million of damage and I'm thinking a billion" with Hurricane Sandy, he said. "Yeah, it will be worse." Sandy has already killed at least 40 in the Caribbean. You can follow its path here.