Hurricane Irene Latest

*Don't forget you can get all the latest weather information on Irene from the links to the right*

The outer rain bands of hurricane Irene are nearing the coast of the Carolinas

Navy ships were ordered out to sea yesterday
Evacuations continue up and down the east coast


Hurricane Irene Info:
Category Two
Maximum Sustained Winds: 105 mph
Pressure: 946 mb
Direction: North 14 mph

Data from NOAA and Air Force Reserve aircraft has suggested that the intensity of Irene is slightly lower; the winds have come down some but Irene is still a strong category two hurricane.  Irene continues to spin over open waters and there have already been some effects from the storm felt along the coast of South Carolina this morning.  The current forecast has not significantly changed and Irene is expected to pass near or even over the North Carolina coast tomorrow afternoon.  Conditions will continue to deteriorate in North Carolina and the Mid-Atlantic today and by Saturday in the Northeast.

Once Irene has passed over North Carolina shear is expected to increase from the southwest and the sea surface temperatures will gradually decrease.  However, it is expected that Irene could reach New York City as a Category One hurricane by early Sunday morning.  New York City has not had a hurricane this close since 1944!  Hurricane Warnings have now been extended further northward as of this latest advisory.

Even though Irene's winds have decreased some it's still a very large storm.  Hurricane force winds extend 90 miles from the center of the storm while tropical storm force winds extend up to 290 miles from the center.  Effects will be felt up and down the east coast from torrential rain, damaging winds and storm surge flooding.  We'll continue to post updates on Irene as the weekend continues.