With wind gusts of 90mph to 115mph Hurricane Irene, the first of 2011 could touch US soil as early as Saturday. It is projected to hit the Bahamas tomorrow. Meteorologists are tracking it closely due to the potential danger of its strength. Check out more of the story after the jump.
GREENVILLE, N.C. – The first hurricane of the 2011 Atlantic Hurricane season could impact eastern NC this weekend. Monitor your Storm Team 9 forecast for updates.
HURRICANE IRENE: The first hurricane of the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season formed Monday morning. As of 8 pm Tuesday, Hurricane Irene is a Category One hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph and gusts over 115 mph. As the cyclone continues on a west-northwest path at 9 mph, it will head toward the Bahamas into Tuesday night.
IRENE’S TRACK: A possible breakdown of the sub-tropical ridge will help to determine the path Irene takes as it moves closer to the U.S. coast. Forecast models have Hurricane Irene making a turn toward the northwest then north during the remainder of the week. This forecast track would bring Hurricane Irene very close to eastern North Carolina by the upcoming weekend. Most model consensus, at this juncture, takes Irene over the Bahamas Wednesday and Thursday and into North Carolina on Saturday.
IRENE’S INTENSITY AND SIZE: The latest forecast models keep Hurricane Irene over warm water and a favorable environment for significant strengthening. Therefore Irene has the potential to become a major hurricane. This could mean Irene having maximum winds over 110 mph within the next two days.
IRENE’S PROGRESS MUST BE MONITORED: As with all forecasts, there is a margin of error. Therefore, please stay tuned to Storm Team for the very latest information on this potentially dangerous hurricane. We remain dedicated to our commitment of keeping you informed and prepared for threatening weather. Our continued goal is to maintain your trust and keep you safe!
