Forecasters Ponder Storm Scenarios as Sandy Heads North

The National Weather Service is closely monitoring Hurricane Sandy to see what impact it might have on the area as it moves up the coast. Sandy officially strengthened to hurricane level as it hit Jamaica Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

"But it's what could happen after that that has some weather forecasters pondering some rather bizarre scenarios — think if a hurricane and nor'easter mated, possibly spawning a very rare and powerful hybrid storm, slamming into the Boston-to-Washington corridor early next week, with rain, inland snow, damaging winds, and potential storm surge flooding," said Andrew Freedman, blogging for Climate Central.

The impact the storm has on New York depends on how the storm tracks over the next five days or so. 

Bryan Norcross, hurricane specialist for the Weather Channel, says the forecasting models are beginning to agree but it's still too early—the main concern now is the Caribbean islands that are in the storm's path.

Whether the storm moves out to sea or up the coast, the National Weather Service says a large area could be affected based on its size.

Stay with Patch for more information as the storm develops.