The latest forecasts show Hurricane Sandy hitting before the morning commute Monday, with high wind and flood watches in effect from Monday morning through the night.

The National Weather Service issued the warnings for Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire.

WHDH's Jeremy Reiner said the worst of Sandy should be from 9 a.m. Monday until 2 a.m. Tuesday.

"Within this period is our greatest risk of wind damage/power loss," Reiner wrote on his blog, noting that many towns will experience wind gusts over 40 miles per hour. Coastal cities and towns may see wind gusts between 50-60 mph and even some wind gusts near 70 mph out on the Cape and Islands.

Reiner said the speed of the wind isn't as great a concern as the duration of the wind, expected to last over several hours and possibly bring down trees and power lines.

Rainfall looks manageable, Reiner said, with most towns looking to pick up 1 to 3 inches of rain through Monday night.

For more updates on the local impacts of Hurricane Sandy, return to Stoneham Patch. The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency also has an app for your smartphone.