Kevin Lemanowicz updates Tropical Storm Sandy - Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston

From Fox 25 Chief Meteorologist Kevin Lemanowicz:

Sandy will hit Jamaica Wednesday as a high-end tropical storm or Category 1 hurricane. That doesn't matter. It is just a few miles-per-hour wind speed difference. There will be flooding and damage on the island, as well as in Cuba later Wednesday when Sandy crosses there. Then, it is on to the Bahamas.

Any time we see a named storm in the Bahamas there is concern for New England.Sandy will be that concern.

The majority of the computer models used by the National Hurricane Center take Sandy safely out to sea from the Bahamas. A few bring it up the coast and into New England.

Cold water typically weakens a tropical storm, but Sandy would actually be energized by a diving jet stream. This would cause it to turn into a hybrid storm - a nor'easter with a lot of tropical moisture. The result would be flooding rains and wind gusts rivaling that of a hurricane.

Beach erosion and flooding would be major issues.

I must emphasize that timing is critical. The jet stream will be diving through the middle of the country toward the east coast. It has to arrive just as Sandy gets to the Bahamas or very soon after to start pulling the storm up the coast.

Meanwhile, there is a traffic jam in the atmosphere forming. Meteorologists call it a blocking pattern. That means the storm could be held up. That slow-down of Sandy would help the jet stream catch up to it, but it could also act to allow the storm to be pulled back toward New England from the east, rather than up the coast.

You can see how complicated this situation is. Tropical moisture from the storm could be pulled back here either way, meaning heavier rain without the wind -- another possibility.

Sandy hitting us is a real possibility, but not the most-likely scenario yet. There are really no preparations to take at this point. The track has shifted northwest Wednesday morning and if that trend continues, or more models start showing that "up the coast" solution by Friday, then I would recommend action.

Right now, just keep up with my forecasts. I am not going to unduly hype this, just provide the facts to keep you prepared and safe.

The good news is you will have fine weather this weekend if you do need to prepare. This storm would not hit until after the weekend… if at all.