Tropical Storm Sandy's present location is about 350 miles southeast of Charleston, S.C., according to the weather service.
Beachgoers venture out to the end of Minutemen Causeway in Cocoa Beach, Fla., around lunchtime to see the waves, getting sandblasted from the wind and sand, due to the effects of the outer bands of Hurricane Sandy, Friday, Oct. 26, 2012. Sandy was downgraded to a tropical storm early Saturday. (AP Photo/Florida Today, Malcolm Denemark)
The National Weather Service has downgraded Sandy to a tropical storm as its maximum sustained winds have dropped to 70 mph.
In the weather service's latest public advisory posted at 5 a.m. Saturday, it says Sandy "is expected to remain a large storm with widespread impacts into early next week."
The storm could regain strength by Sunday night, however, the AP reports.
Tropical Storm Sandy's present location is about 350 miles southeast of Charleston, S.C., according to the weather service.
Tropical storm watches and warnings remain in effect for Florida's east coast and points north.
CBS 3 Springfield meteorologist Nick Morganelli's latest forecast from Friday afternoon predicts Tropical Storm Sandy will begin affecting New England late Monday through Tuesday, with 3 to 5 inches of rain and windy conditions here in Western Massachusetts.
This is a developing story. Stay with MassLive.com as our reporting continues.