Hurricane Irene has grown stronger with a prominent eye seen on visible satellite pictures crossing Crooked Island. It is a large storm with the hurricane force winds extending 50 miles from the center and the Tropical Storm Force winds reaching out 205 miles. The latest satellite video loop, images and forecasts can be found on the left.
This is dangerous Category 2 and will reach Category 3- Major Hurricane Status today Even more destruction and unfortunate loss of life can be expected in the Bahamas on Thursday when the storm is near it’s strongest with forecasts up to 135 mph= Category 4.
The Turks and Caicos Islands along with The Bahamas can expect a storm surge of 5-8 feet. See Hurricanes 101: What is Storm Surge. Rainfall is expected to be up to 6-12 inches along the path of the storm, with isolated amounts up to 15 inches
The computer models and NHC now have the path is through the North Carolina Outer Banks and 100-200 miles east of Ocean City, MD on Sunday morning.
Note that the National Hurricane Center has highlighted that research shows an error of 250 with day 4-5 landfall projections of tropical systems. That is why the cone of uncertainty gets wider towards the end.
Note: This may be the first hurricane to hit the US since Ike in 2008. Last year, Hurricane Earl was on a similar path, and the eye passed to the east of Cape Hatteras, NC.
Latest NHC UPDATE
SUMMARY OF 200 PM EDT...1800 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...22.7N 74.3W
ABOUT 65 MI...105 KM SE OF LONG ISLAND BAHAMAS
ABOUT 250 MI...405 KM SE OF NASSAU
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...120 MPH...195 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NW OR 310 DEGREES AT 12 MPH...19 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...954 MB...28.17 INCHES
Tropical Story Links:
• Tropical Storm Climatology: Origin points mapped out every 10 days of the season
• 2011 Hurricane season forecast and review of 2010
• 2011 Hurricane season video report: Joe Bastardi forecast for more US landfalls
2010 Season Recap:
• Records and individual storm links
• Video of 2010 Season from NOAA
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 GOVERNMENT OF THE BAHAMAS HAS CHANGED THE HURRICANE WARNING FOR
THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS TO A TROPICAL STORM WARNING.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT...
A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* THE SOUTHEASTERN...CENTRAL...AND NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS* INTERESTS IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND THE MID-ATLANTIC STATES
SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF IRENE.
Comments