The states of New York and New Jersey have entered a state of emergency as Hurricane Sandy approaches the U.S. East Coast.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg says the coastal areas near City Island and Battery Park are expected to be flooded, and he ordered 375-thousand residents to evacuate. New York's massive mass transit system has also been shut down.

Public schools in the city are also closing from Monday and public transport services in New York state completely shut down as of 7 p.m. Sunday.

Weather authorities say Sandy will bring enormous rain, strong winds and heavy snow that are likely to cause damage along a one-thousand-300-kilometer section from the East Coast to the Great Lakes.