Hurricane Sandy Roots from Unusual Mixture of Systems - WLNS TV 6 Lansing - Jackson | Your Local News Leader

Jeff Andresen, Michigan's climatalogist and an MSU geography professor says the power of Hurricane Sandy comes from an unusual mixture of systems.

"Two types of low pressure systems, one tropical and one temperate or mid latitude-high latitude," says Andersen.

It's a combination that he says hasn't been seen since 1991 in what became known as the "Perfect Storm."

"That one also was an original low pressure system that moved into the mid-latitude and became extra tropical and that's what's forecasted with Sandy here over the next couple of days," said Andersen.

Andresen says it could result in constant rainfall, high surf and winds in an excess of 80 miles per hour.

"Sandy likely will impact the same areas or the same region for an extended period of time," said Andersen. "Leaves are still on the trees and of course with more leaves, the trees have more drag and so trees coming down, take power lines out that will be very common, I'm sure."

Andresen says it could produce close to $500 million in damage. A lot could still change over the next few days, but Andresen says the guidance so far has been consistent with the current storm path.