Hurricane Sandy blasting East Coast

• Storm is forecast to make landfall on southern N.J. coast
• Storm surge, high winds are biggest areas of concern
• Up to 2 feet of snow possible in highest elevations

Ferocious Hurricane Sandy is making its mark as it blasts ashore: "Sandy is unfolding as the Northeast's Katrina, in terms of impact," says AccuWeather meteorologist Steve Wistar.

As of 5 p.m., the center of 90-mph Hurricane Sandy was located about 30 miles east southeast of Cape May, N.J. and about 40 miles southeast of Atlantic City. Landfall is expected within the next hour or two, likely in extreme southern New Jersey. It is roaring to the west-northwest at 28 mph.

Sandy is making its transition from a hurricane to an "extratropical" storm, which is the type of storm that normally batters the U.S. in the fall and winter. AccuWeather's Barry Myers put it this way: "Sandy is a hurricane wrapped in a winter storm."

Sandy will weaken over land by midweek, but conditions will remain adverse throughout the Northeast, eastern Great Lakes and upper Ohio Valley, according to AccuWeather.

An extended period of wind gusts between 40 and 60 mph is forecast Tuesday and into Wednesday, which will continue to take its toll on structures, trees and power lines.

STORY:Hurricane Sandy lashes East Coast

Sandy on Monday finally made its long-promised and unusual turn to the northwest toward the Mid-Atlantic, as predicted by some weather models almost a week ago. How unusual? Weather historian Christopher Burt of the Weather Underground reports that only three hurricanes or strong tropical storms have ever made landfall in New Jersey or Delaware at any time of year.

Storm surge and high winds will be the main story from Sandy, forecasters say, with the worst of the storm likely through the night Monday and into Tuesday.

"The barrier islands of New Jersey to New York City, including tidal river areas, may experience their worst storm surge flooding in modern times with Sandy rolling ashore around high tide Monday evening with the punch of a more powerful hurricane," reports AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.

Meteorologist Jeff Masters of the Weather Underground says the destructive potential from Sandy's storm surge is higher than any hurricane since 1969, including storms that at times reached Category 5 strength like Katrina, Rita, Wilma, Camille and Andrew.

Up to 2 feet of snow is also possible in the highest elevations of the Appalachians in West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina, the National Weather Service says. Blizzard warnings have been issued throughout the region.

Overall, Masters says this superstorm is going to deliver a punishing multibillion-dollar blow to a huge area of the Eastern United States.

"History is being written as an extreme weather event continues to unfold, one which will occupy a place in the annals of weather history as one of the most extraordinary to have affected the United States," says meteorologist Stu Ostro of the Weather Channel.