Hurricane Sandy News: Millions of people are without power in the U.S. northeast as the powerful post tropical storm Sandy pummels the region with hurricane force winds, rain, and a dangerous storm surge that has caused flooding in many coastal areas including parts of New York City. Sandy has caused mass disruption in coastal communities and beyond, as thousands of flights were cancelled, trains disrupted, roads closed and schools and offices shut down as the storm approached.

The storm was tracking inland around 11 p.m. ET, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said, but maximum sustained winds were still strong, clocking in around 120 km/h. On the forecast track, the centre of Sandy is expected to move across Pennsylvania during the next day or so  then move into western New York Tuesday night. At least 10 deaths in five states have been blamed on the storm, The Associated Press reported. A woman was also killed in Canada, when she was struck by flying debris in Toronto amid gusting winds.

"Do not go outside. Conditions are extremely dangerous," New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said on Twitter as the storm lashed the city Monday night. "Please stay where you are until the storm passes." He urged people to stay off the roads and leave them clear for emergency workers, who have been dealing with an onslaught of 911 calls. "There are about 60 blocks in Manhattan now totally without power," CBC's David Common said from New York City late Monday night. "We understand that exists not only across New York City, but right up and down the northeast coast huge numbers of people without power."

New York University hospital was struck by a power outage after losing backup power, the mayor said, noting that the city is working with the hospital to try to move people out. Media reports suggest as many as three million customers in the U.S. may be without electricity as Sandy downs lines and disrupts the distribution of power.