Tracking The Tropics: Hurricane Irene Regains Cat. 2 Strength as Bahamas Battering Nears

Hurricane Irene has regained its Category 2 storm status on the Saffir-Simpson scale as of 2AM EST Wednesday. There is still significant concern for the East coast of the United States to be impacted significantly by Irene later this week and well into the upcoming weekend. Today, Irene impacts the Bahamas. 

Here's the latest on Hurricane Irene as of 2AM EST Wednesday morning, which has brought Irene's track further West:

Hurricane Irene: 2AM EST Update

Top Winds: 100 mph

Minimum Central Pressure: 966mb

Moving WNW @ 9 mph

Located ~400mi SE Nassau, Bahamas; 
~975mi S Cape Hatteras, NC

Irene is now headed towards prime waters for strengthening. Expect Irene to rapidly begin to restrengthen today and tomorrow. 

Current watches and warnings include:

A Hurricane Warning for Turks and Caicos Islands and the Southeastern, Central and Northwestern Bahamas.

A Tropical Storm Warning in effect for the North Coast of Haiti.

Hurricane force winds still only stretch outward for 40 miles, but Tropical Storm Force winds extend to around 205 miles from the storm's center. 

Irene is forecast to become a Category 3 storm. Portions of South Carolina and North Carolina will start to see increased surf and dangerous rip currents from Irene. The center of Irene is forecast to now be over Cape Hatteras, North Carolina by Saturday evening.

Then, things look like they'll get very interesting for Eastern sections of Virginia, DC, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey right on North through the rest of the mid-Atlantic area. While it's too early to tell just how the US mainland will be affected by Irene, it's important to be prepared for what could come.

Irene's current projected path brings the storm over New York City as a hurricane late Sunday.

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. While Irene batters the Bahamas, residents up and down the East coast of the United States should prepare for a potential Hurricane hit later in the week and I will be updating you on this storm and any other tropical activity throughout the week. 

Posted in: Atlantic Ocean,Bahamas,damaging winds,east coast,Haiti,Hurricane Irene,hurricane outlook,Hurricane Season,tropics