Sandy, a hybrid storm with both tropical and extra-tropical characteristics, brought high winds and coastal flooding to southern New England.  Easterly winds gusted to 50 to 60 mph for interior southern New England; 55 to 65 mph along the eastern Massachusetts coast and along the I-95 corridor in southeast Massachusetts and Rhode Island; and 70 to 80 mph along the southeast Massachusetts and Rhode Island coasts.  A few higher higher gusts occurred along the Rhode Island coast.  In general, moderate coastal flooding occurred along the Massachusetts coastline, and major coastal flooding impacted the Rhode Island coastline.  The storm surge was generally 2.5 to 4.5 feet along the east coast of Massachusetts, but peaked late Monday afternoon in between high tide cycles.  Seas built to between 20 and 25 feet Monday afternoon and evening just off the Massachusetts east coast.  Along the south coast, the storm surge was 4 to 6 feet and seas from 30 to a little over 35 feet were observed in the outer coastal waters.  The very large waves on top of the storm surge caused destructive coastal flooding along stretches of the Rhode Island exposed south coast.
Sandy grew into a hurricane over the southwest Caribbean and then headed north across Jamaica, Cuba, and the Bahamas.  As Sandy headed north of the Bahamas, the storm interacted with a vigorous weather system moving west to east across the United States and began to take on a hybrid structure.  Strong high pressure over southeast Canada helped with the expansion of the strong winds well north of the center of Sandy.  In essence Sandy retained the structure of a hurricane near its center (until shortly before landfall) while taking on more of an extra-tropical cyclone configuration well away from the center.  Sandy���s track was unusual.  The storm headed northeast and then north across the western Atlantic and then sharply turned to the west to make landfall near Atlantic City, NJ during Monday evening.  Sandy subsequently weakened and moved west across southern Pennsylvania on Tuesday before turning north and heading across western New York state into Quebec during Tuesday night and Wednesday.

Marine High Wind in BOSTON HARBOR, ATLANTIC NORTH
From 29-OCT-12 14:00:00 to 29-OCT-12 14:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: BOSTON LIGHT
Magnitude: 63.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The weatherflow measuring site at Pleasant Bay recorded wind gusts to 72 mph.  No damage was reported.

Marine High Wind in NANTUCKET SOUND, ATLANTIC NORTH
From 29-OCT-12 13:00:00 to 29-OCT-12 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: HYANNISPORT
Magnitude: 63.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The weatherflow reporting site at Kalmus recorded a 72 mph wind gust.  The Nantucket Sound buoy (44020) recorded a wind gust of 60 mph.  No damage was reported.

Marine High Wind in RHODE ISLAND SOUND, ATLANTIC NORTH
From 29-OCT-12 14:00:00 to 29-OCT-12 14:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: BUZZARDS BAY ENTRANCE TOWER
Magnitude: 72.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Buoy

The Buzzards Bay Entrance Tower (BUZM3) recorded wind gusts up to 83 mph.  No damage was reported.

Marine High Wind in MASSACHUSETTS BAY AND IPSWICH BAY, ATLANTIC NORTH
From 29-OCT-12 15:00:00 to 29-OCT-12 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: MINOT LIGHT
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Buoy

The buoy east of Boston (44013) recorded wind gusts to 59 mph.  No damage was reported.

Marine High Wind in NARRAGANSETT BAY, ATLANTIC NORTH
From 29-OCT-12 13:54:00 to 29-OCT-12 17:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: GREENWICH BAY
Magnitude: 62.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The National Ocean Service Physical Oceanographic Real Time Systems at Providence, Conimicut Point, Potter's Cove, and Quonset Point all reported wind gusts between 53 and 71 mph.  No damage was reported.