Sandy never even threatened to be a Cat3. Most of the time it was a solid Cat1, but for a short time down near Cuba and Haiti it was Cat2. The NHC downgraded Sandy to “post tropical cyclone” status 4 hours or so before landfall.
Reports are here: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2012/SANDY.shtml?
Good graphic here: http://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/at2012.asp
Sandy damage was caused by the storm surge coinciding exactly with an unusually strong high tide, more than by wind.
Yes thanks. It was a full moon, hurricane, high tide. Triple whammy.