As Hurricane Sandy closes in on the East Coast, threatening people from South Carolina to Maine, even Chicagoans may feel repercussions. 

The National Weather Service issued a lakeshore flood warning that goes into effect from 1 a.m. Tuesday until 4 p.m. Wednesday. Hurricane Sandy is set to hit the coast Monday morning, and the aftermath of the storm will move toward the Eastern Great Lakes and onto Lake Michigan, with winds from 50 to 60 mph, according to the National Weather Service. These extreme winds are expected to last until Tuesday evening.

From the southern end of Lake Michigan, waves are expected to reach heights of 20 to 25 feet and will build by Monday.

The National Weather Service has put a high wind watch in place. Although the fastest gusts will head north and reach the 50- to 60-mph mark, most will remain steady at 30 to 35 mph.

The National Weather Service warns of coastal damage and flooding, as well as a threat to tree limbs, power lines and high-rise buildings by the coast of the affected lakes.

By Sunday night, the storm’s center was still 280 miles east-southeast of Cape Hatteras, N.C., according to CNN. It will hit in an area that includes Delaware, parts of Maryland, Virginia and southern New Jersey. CNN reports 2 million students in schools along the Eastern Seaboard have classes cancelled for the beginning of the week.

— Paulina Firozi