The east coast of America desperately prepares ahead of the arrival of hurricane Sandy on Monday evening

Residents of the east coast of the United States are desperately preparing for the arrival of hurricane Sandy on Monday evening, which is heading north from the Caribbean. Heavy rain, high winds and snow have been forecast for a spell of devastating weather that is expected to affect up to 60 million people over a distance of 800 miles.

Hundreds of thousands have been evacuated from coastal areas and from New York, while citizens who’ve elected to remain at home have begun boarding up properties and gathering supplies from local supermarkets. Forecasters fear the hurricane, which claimed the lives of 60 people in the Caribbean, could develop into a more severe ‘super-storm’ if it collides with cold weather fronts from the west and the north.

Dubbed "Frankenstorm", the hurricane is approximately 520 miles (835km) in diameter, could last for as long as 36 hours, and is expected to generate transport disruption, flooding and power cuts. A state of emergency has already been declared in nine states – including Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Click through to review the final preparations along the east coast of America.