Sandy assessment
The government releases a long-awaited report on "hurricane" -- or not -- Sandy.
The post-storm analysis of Sandy mutated into a storm in and of itself, and controversy continues over it was or was not a hurricane when it made landfall near Brigantine on Oct. 29.
Officials at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are holding fast to their decision that Sandy had lost its tropical characteristics before making landfall and thus wasn't technically a hurricane.
But it its long-awaited Sandy assessment released this morning, it did reaffirm that the distinction -- ripped by some of the giants in the private sector -- was confusing, if not unnecessary.
Once the storm center reached Duck, N.C., the warnings and watches became the responsibility of local National Weather Service offices, rather than the National Hurricane Center.
Already, the government has decided that as of June 1, the beginning the of 2013 tropical-storm season, the National Hurricane Center will be responsible for issuing forecasts and warnings for hybrids such as Sandy.
The assessment state that warnings should been clearer, and issued a gold star to the Mount Holly National Weather Service office and its boss, Gary Szatkowski, for issuing a clearly and dramatically worded briefing paper.
You'll find that reference on Page 26 of the report.
More later.