Tracking the Tropics: Irene Rapidly Strengthens to Cat. 3 Status

Hurricane Irene strengthened into a Category 3 storm Wednesday morning. There is still significant concern for the East coast of the United States to be impacted by Irene. Today, Irene continues its trek across the Bahamas. 

Here's the latest on Hurricane Irene as of 2PM EST Wednesday. Irene has strengthened even more since the 11AM EST update from the National Hurricane Center:

Hurricane Irene: 2PM EST Update

Top Winds: 120 mph

Minimum Central Pressure: 954mb

Moving NW @ 12 mph

Located ~65mi SE Long Island, Bahamas; 
~250mi SE Nassau, Bahamas

Current watches and warnings include:

A Hurricane Warning for Southeastern, Central and Northwestern Bahamas.

A Tropical Storm Warning in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Hurricane force winds stretch outward for 50 miles now, but Tropical Storm Force winds extend to around 205 miles from the storm's center. 

Irene is now forecast to become a Category 4 storm by Thursday. US residents up and down the East coast should monitor Irene very closely. An updated forecast track is posted after the break.

Things still 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 for later this week into this weekend. 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. There is still the chance for a more Easterly track, but right now that is not the more likely scenario.

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.

Late Friday into Saturday is key for the Carolina coasts. The Mid-Atlantic states could get battered with hurricane force winds and a ton of rainfall and rough surf on Sunday.

Posted in: Atlantic Ocean,damaging winds,east coast,flooding,Hurricane Irene,Hurricane Season,new york city,tropics