Frankenstorm: What we know about Hurricane Sandy

The storm churning toward the northeastern U.S. could clash with wintry blasts from the west and Canada to create a "perfect storm." How bad could it get?

A detailed infrared image of Hurricane Sandy on Oct. 25: The late-season storm is expected to combine with a polar air mass next week.
(Image credit: REUTERS/NOAA Environmental Visualization Laboratory)

Hurricane Sandy is barreling up the Atlantic Ocean toward America's East Coast on a collision course with an early wintry storm from the west and a frigid blast of air from the north, which forecasters warn could create a "perfect storm." Sandy has already killed at least 31 people in the Caribbean, and could hit the Northeast on the day before Halloween next week as a "Frankenstorm" worse than anything the region has seen in 100 years. "It really could be an extremely significant, historic storm," says University of Miami researcher Brian McNoldy. How bad will it get? Here's a brief guide:

Are forecasters certain the Frankenstorm will hit?

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