Forecasters: Too early to tell if Tropical Storm Sandy will hit Mass. on Halloween

 E-mail | Print | Comments (9) 10/23/2012 3:11 PM

•  By Melissa M. Werthmann, Globe Correspondent

Tropical Storm Sandy could be headed for New England just in time for Halloween, but forecasters say it is still too early to tell.

“It’s possible,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Joe Dellicarpini. “The possibilities range from it hitting the East Coast to remaining out over the open ocean.”

Sandy was upgraded to a tropical storm from a tropical depression Monday.

The storm is carrying winds up to 50 miles per hour and is 275 miles south-southwest of Kingston, Jamaica, Dellicarpini said.

It is moving north-northeast at 5 miles per hour and could hit the Bay State as early as Monday or Tuesday, he said.

But forecasters are not sure what path the storm will take.

“We really won’t have a better handle on it until later this week,” Dellicarpini said.

New Englanders may have to dodge a few raindrops tonight and during Wednesday morning’s commute, Dellicarpini said.

Spotty showers will be scattered across the state, but the sun will break through the clouds by late Wednesday morning, he said.

The rest of the week looks sunny and dry, with temperatures in the 60s, according to the weather service.

Melissa Werthmann can be reached at [e-mail].