Although Maine will be spared the bulk of Hurricane Sandy's wrath, the coast will still be pummeled with high winds and roaring seas.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts that Maine will see sustained winds of 30 to 40 miles-per-hour with gusts ranging north of 50 miles-per-hour. Although rain is in the forecast, most of the heavy rains will be concentrated over central and western Maine.

Seas are expected to be 4 to 7 feet with 6 to 9-foot seas predicted for the afternoon.

NOAA said there is a 5 to 10 percent chance of storm surges along the Maine Coast. A coastal flood warning was issued from the National Weather Service in Gray, Maine until 5 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 30. The release stated that the storm surge combined with high tides could cause storm surges of three to four feet.

That combination could cause the water level to rise a foot over the flood level which could lead to splash-over and beach erosion.

The NWS predicts that floods would be more likely to occur around the high tides, which are scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 29 and midnight, Oct. 30.

The coastal hazard was issued for Lincoln, York, Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Knox, Waldo and Rockingham (New Hampshire) counties.

Ben Bulkeley can be reached at 633-4620 or bbulkeley@boothbayregister.com. Follow him on Twitter: @BBRegisterBen.