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.  A severe thunderstorm embedded in an outer band associated with Sandy produced wind gusts to 90 mph and concentrated damage in Wareham early Tuesday evening,
a day after the center of Sandy had moved into New Jersey.  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.

High Wind in TOLLAND, CONNECTICUT
From 29-OCT-12 14:52:00 to 29-OCT-12 17:13:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 439.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

In Coventry, numerous roads were blocked by downed trees.  In Mansfield, a 90 year old woman was killed when a tree fell on her and two of her family members on West Highland Road.  They were walking to a neighbor's house who still had electricity after they lost power.  The other two victims (a male and a female) were seriously injured.

High Wind in WINDHAM, CONNECTICUT
From 29-OCT-12 11:47:00 to 29-OCT-12 17:39:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 53.00 EG
Property damage: 438.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

An amateur radio operator recorded a wind gust of 61 mph on their home weather station in Thompson.  The Automated Surface Observing System at Windham Airport in Willimantic (KIJD) recorded sustained wind speeds of 38 mph and gusts to 53 mph.  A 32 inch diameter tree was downed in Pomfret, blocking a road.

High Wind in HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT
From 29-OCT-12 15:22:00 to 29-OCT-12 18:10:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 62.00 MG
Property damage: 1.20M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

The Automated Surface Observing System at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, CT (KBDL) recorded sustained wind speeds of 40 mph and gusts to 71 mph.  In South Windsor, a tree was downed along Route 5, blocking Nutmeg Road.  In West Hartford, a tree was downed onto power lines.  In Hartford, trees were downed onto houses on Auburn Street and Bristol Street.