Frankenstorm New York: As Hurricane Sandy Barrels Towards Big Apple, City Prepares (VIDEO)

By Jill Colvin, DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

NEW YORK CITY — Meteorologists are warning the so-called “Frankenstorm” could prove “catastrophic” for the city, producing hurricane-force winds, driving rain, and flooding that could prove far worse than Hurricane Irene.

The storm, dubbed "Frankenstorm" due to it being an amalgam of a large hurricane and a cold front, is expected to begin barreling toward the East Coast Friday afternoon, with the wind beginning to pick up in the city by Sunday evening, and rain starting Sunday night.

But the brunt of the storm is expected to hit Monday night, when the city will be socked with hurricane-force winds, driving rain and potential flooding that could prove far worse than Irene.

“This is going to be a major event, there’s going be catastrophic damage,” said Bob Smerbeck, expert senior meteorologist at AccuWeather.com, who said that, even if Hurricane Sandy shifts its course, it will likely prove devastating for New York.

“This scenario is the worst case scenario,” he said. “It’s going to be an historic storm.”

City and state official began preparing New York City for the worst Friday.

The MTA canceled all weekend construction except on the 7 and J lines, and warned riders to brace for potential subway service shutdowns. The agency added that buses, railroads, bridges and tunnels are being prepped for high winds and heavy rain.

During Hurricane Irene, all subway service was canceled to protect equipment from flooding rain.

The MTA’s Hurricane Plan calls for a mandatory service shutdown before the arrival of a storm with sustained winds of 39 miles per hour or higher. Bridges could be closed with sustained winds of 60 miles per hour or above.

The city's emergency coastal storm plan was activated Wednesday morning and agencies are huddled at the Office of Emergency Management's situation room consulting with weather experts.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg left open the possibility Thursday of a potential mandatory evacuation of low-lying areas, which the city performed for the first time in its history during Hurricane Irene.

“If necessary, we’re prepared to do the same thing,” said the mayor.

Bloomberg also cautioned people to remain calm.

“There’s no reason to panic," he said. "We're going to do what we have to do."

Still, he advised New Yorkers to pay attention to news reports and make sure they have "go bags" with emergency belongings at the ready.

The city advises the bags should include copies of important documents in a waterproof and portable container, an extra set of car and house keys, copies of credit and ATM cards, cash, bottled water, nonperishable food items, a flashlight, radio, extra batteries and a first aid kit.

“It’s going to be just blasting wind, power outages, combined with heavy rains,” said Smerbeck, who said that winds are expected to reach 50 to 60 miles an hour, driving a storm surge as high as 5 to 10 feet.

Thanks to a combination of forces, including a very high tide, officials warn the surge could create “extreme coastal flooding” in low-lying areas, including much of coastal Brooklyn and Battery Park.

The storm also has the potential to down thousands of trees and disrupt power for millions in the region, in addition to causing widespread flight delays and cancellations along the East Coast.

The city’s hurricane guide also advised families to develop a plan about where to find each other and how to communicate during the storm.

Residents are also advised to prepare their homes by securing outdoor objects, such as porch and lawn furniture that could blow away in the wind, secure doors and windows, and move valuable items to upper floors, which are less likely to flood.