Americans told to 'prepare for worst' with arrival of 'monster storm'

Sandy started last week in the Caribbean, where it killed 67 people. Atlantic hurricanes usually turn east, out to sea, as they travel up the coastline. But Sandy is what one expert called a “meteorologically mind-boggling” coincidence; a collision of a tropical hurricane and a cold front arriving from the west, which accelerated the hurricane as it pulled Sandy westward.

Two other factors – a blast of cold air travelling down from the Arctic, and a full moon that raised tides last night – contrived to make Sandy the perfect storm.

In keeping with Halloween, Sandy the hybrid has been dubbed the “monster storm” and “Frankenstorm”.

Flight disruptions cancellations and delays

HURRICANE SANDY continues to affect flights from Ireland to east-coast US cities, with at least one flight to New York cancelled.

Most flights from Irish airports are scheduled to go ahead today but last night Aer Lingus confirmed its flights EI 105 Dublin New York and EI-104 New York to Dublin have been cancelled.

A company spokesman said flights EI109 Dublin to New York and EI108 New York to Dublin were “currently planned to operate on schedule”.

That may change however and passengers could expect delays in some cases of at least four hours. Aer Lingus will update passengers by SMS or online.

Aer Lingus flights to and from Boston, Chicago and Orlando will go ahead as scheduled. British Airways and Virgin flights from Heathrow Airport in London also face disruption.

Virgin has confirmed that early flights today at 9am and 1pm from Heathrow to New York are cancelled. Later-departing flights are scheduled to go ahead, as are flights to Boston and Washington.

United Airlines, which cancelled flights from Dublin to Newark and Dulles, Washington DC, is expecting its flights to operate today, with delays likely.

British Airways has warned passengers of continued disruption and was expected to make a decision late last night about services to and from US east-coast cities including Philadelphia, Baltimore, Boston, New York and Newark.

A BA spokesman said: “Our other US flights are operating normally and we are also able to fly as usual to Toronto and Montreal in Canada.”

Airlines have advised passengers they can change flights without charge or seek a refund.