Michael Page from Campus Weather Service said that while Sandy is still classified as a Category 1 hurricane, it has picked up strength since yesterday, with a documented 90 mph wind.

John Ferrick, senior meteorologist for AccuWeather, said the center is expected to make landfall close to Atlantic City at around 6 to 8 tonight. As for location, he said that Hurricane Sandy is “probably closer to 90 miles from Atlantic City, moving to the Northwest at almost 25 mph.”

While winds are picking up across Southern New Jersey, rising wave action in the water has also been noted, Ferrick said. The heavy rain is focused on the west of the center, from Delaware through much of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Northern Virginia, he added.

“The most devastating effect of the storm will be seen at the coast of New Jersey up through New York,” Page said.

While the forecast has not deviated greatly from yesterday, Page said that the storm’s pressure has seen a significant drop, which makes it a very “historic storm” from that standpoint.

Concerning Pennsylvania, Ferrick said winds gusting 60-70 mph in the Philadelphia area are expected this evening, possibly leading to “widespread power outages and down trees”

“Across central Pennsylvania, the biggest concern is going to be for heavy rainfall,” Ferrick said, adding that rainfall could amount to four to eight inches.

Page continued that, for State College, this means that winds will become gustiest at around 8 to 10 pm, with expected winds of 30-40 mph. Power outages and street flooding are likely, he added.

Wind gusts are expected to reach 60 mph overnight, Ferrick said.