The Weather

South Shore school districts canceling classes ahead of Hurricane Sandy

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With Hurricane Sandy predicted to wreak havoc on Long Island Monday into Tuesday, school districts across the South Shore cancelled classes for Monday, Oct. 29.

Among the districts to announce cancellations on their websites as of 4 p.m. on Sunday were:

•Baldwin

•Bellmore

•Bellmore-Merrick Central

•East Meadow

•Elmont

•Lynbrook

•Hewlett

•Island Park

•Malverne

•Merrick

•North Bellmore

•North Merrick

•Oceanside

•Rockville Centre

•Sewanhaka High School District

•Valley Stream

•West Hempstead

The City of Long Beach had declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm.

According to the National Weather Service, Sandy’s impacts were expected to build across Long Island on Sunday, with gradually increasing winds and a 70 percent chance of rain. The storm’s greatest impacts will be felt in the area from Monday afternoon into Monday night, according to the service. Wind gusts could reach 75 to 80 miles per hour. The storm was predicted to weaken Tuesday into Wednesday.

Officials at the National Hurricane Center said one of the storm’s most dangerous elements could be a “significant storm surge,” with the Atlantic Ocean rising three to six feet above normal levels in many areas, potentially inundating low-lying areas. The estimates were that the ocean level could rise one to two feet above astronomical tides on Sunday, two to four feet on Monday morning and potentially five to 10 feet Monday into Tuesday, depending on location.

On Saturday, Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano announced the closing of all county parks, marinas and senior centers starting on Monday until further notice. In addition, visiting hours at the Nassau County Correctional Center were cancelled for Monday.

County officials were urging residents to assemble “Go Kits” with food, water, a first-aid kit and their most important documents, and to evacuate where necessary.