Tracking the Tropics: Category 3 Irene Prompts East Coast Watches & Warnings

As of 8PM EST Thursday, Hurricane Irene continued to churn to the North-Northwestward at Category 3 strength. Watches and warnings are already being posted for parts of the US East coast. See below for the latest!

Here's the latest information on Hurricane Irene as of 8PM EST Thursday evening:

Hurricane Irene: 8PM EST Update

Top Winds: 115 mph

Minimum Central Pressure: 946mb

Moving NNW @ 14 mph

Located: ~530mi SSW Cape Hatteras, North Carolina

Conditions are prime for Irene to strengthen somewhat tonight. A turn to the Northward is expected sometime tomorrow. Irene is expected to hit Cape Hatteras, North Carolina Saturday afternoon and then begin to affect the New York tri-state area late Saturday into Sunday.

 

Current watches and warnings include:

A Hurricane Warning for the Northwestern Bahamas and much of the North Carolina coast.

A Hurricane Watch for the Virginia/North Carolina border North through Sandy Hook, New Jersey.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for North of Edisto Beach, South Carolina to Little River Inlet.

A Tropical Storm Watch for Chesapeake Bay from Smith Point Northward.
Hurricane force winds stretch outward for 80 miles, but Tropical Storm Force winds extend about 290 miles.

Click here to read how the National Weather Service suggests you to get prepared for a natural disaster such as Hurricane Irene. Be sure to have a plan of action just in case!

You can see Hurricane Irene's current projected path below. Next update at 11PM EST.

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