Hurricane Irene is becoming a large storm. While winds are holding at 80 mph sustained around the center, the Tropical Storm Force Winds reach out 160 miles as measured by a buoy to the north. The storm is passing to the north of The Dominican Republic and conditions with light upper level winds are favorable for this to intensify rapidly. The result has the official forecast winds up to 115mph or high by Wednesday night or Thursday morning. That would be Major Hurricane at Category 3 status.
The computer models and NHC have shifted the track again farther to the east. This takes Florida out of the direct path, as well as Savannah, Ga. The current projections (see the slide show on the left) have it close to Myrtle Beach, but even that landfall is not something to focus on yet. The Cat 3 intensity should be reached over The Bahamas, and could be life threatening. See Hurrianes 101: What is Storm Surge
Note: This may be the first hurricane to hit the US since 2008- Hurricane Ike. There have been 16 hurricanes since named with no impact on the US coast.
SUMMARY OF 200 PM AST...1800 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...19.3N 68.1W
ABOUT 150 MI...240 KM WNW OF SAN JUAN PUERTO RICO
ABOUT 50 MI...80 KM NNE OF PUNTA CANA DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...80 MPH...130 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 290 DEGREES AT 12 MPH...19 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...989 MB...29.20 INCHES
Tropical Story Links:
- Tropical Storm Climatology: Origin points mapped out every 10 days of theseason
- 2011 Hurricane season forecast and review of 2010
- 2011 Hurricane season video report: Joe Bastardi forecast for more US landfalls
2010 Season Recap:
NOTE: 2009 was among the least active in the last two decades (video)
Hurricane Awareness Week Links:
- Hurricane Awareness Week: History of storms 1900-1979
- Hurricane Awareness Week: History of Atlantic storms 1980-2005
- Hurricane Awareness Week: Storm surge highlights oil danger on Louisiana coast
- Hurricane Awareness Week: Inland Flooding
NEW:Satellite Loop Movie: 72 hours of Total Precipitable Water and TRMM
Watches and Warnings:
CHANGES IN WATCHES AND WARNINGS WITH THIS ADVISORY...
THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING FOR PUERTO RICO...VIEQUES AND CULEBRA
HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED.
THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING FOR THE SOUTH COAST OF THE DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC WEST OF SANTO DOMINGO HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT...
A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* NORTH COAST OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC FROM THE HAITI BORDER
EASTWARD TO CABO ENGANO
* SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS AND THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS
A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* NORTH COAST OF HAITI FROM LE MOLE ST. NICHOLAS EASTWARD TO THE
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC BORDER
* CENTRAL BAHAMAS
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* SOUTH COAST OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC FROM SANTO DOMINGO EASTWARD
TO CABO ENGANO
* ALL OF HAITI
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