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Irene strengthens back to Category 2 hurricane

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By Dave Cocchiarella and Danny Treanor, Severe Weather Experts
Last Updated: Wednesday, August 24, 2011 2:11 AM
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Irene
Updated 11 p.m. Sun., Aug. 28
  • Location: 45.3 N, 71.3 W
  • Winds: 50 mph 
  • Movement: NNE at 26 mph
  • Pressure: 980 mb / 28.94 in.
How far is it?
  • Berlin, New Hampshire: 50 miles N
  • Quebec City, Quebec: 105 miles S

Irene is back to Category 2 strength with 100 mph winds, and is forecast to strengthen as it passes the Bahamas.

It is expected to become a major hurricane Wednesday as it moves northwest.

Before approaching the South Florida coast, Irene will turn northward, keeping itself parallel to the East Coast of Central Florida on Friday. Rough surf and hazardous boating conditions are imminent for the entire Florida coast.

Tropical models continue to shift eastward, which is a much better scenario for all of east Central Florida. By late Saturday, Irene will approach the Carolinas as a major hurricane.

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HURRICANE IRENE ADVISORY

2 a.m. update -- Irene strengthening.

Watches and warnings

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:

  • Turks and Caicos Islands
  • Southeastern, central and northwestern Bahamas

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:

  • North coast of Haiti, from Le Mole St. Nicholas eastward to the Dominican Republic border
48-hour outlook

At 2 a.m., the center of Hurricane Irene was located by an Air Force Hurricane Hunter Aircraft near latitude 21.3 north, longitude 72.6 west. 

The eye of the hurricane has been wobbling over the past few hours, but Irene is moving generally toward the west-northwest near 9 mph. A gradual turn toward the northwest is expected on Wednesday. On the forecast track, the core of Irene will move across the southeastern and central Bahamas today and over the northwestern Bahamas on Thursday.
 
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 100 mph with higher gusts. Irene is a category two hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale.  Strengthening is forecast and Irene could become a major hurricane during the next day or so.
 
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 40 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 205 miles.
 
The latest minimum central pressure reported by the hurricane hunters was 966 mb or 28.53 inches.

Hazards affecting land

Wind: Hurricane conditions are occurring over portions of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and are beginning to spread over the southeastern Bahamas. Tropical storm conditions are expected to begin over the central Bahamas today, with hurricane conditions expected tonight. Tropical storm conditions are expected in the northwestern Bahamas by late tonight, with hurricane conditions expected on Thursday.

Storm Surge: In areas of onshore winds near the center of Irene, an extremely dangerous storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 7 to 11 feet above normal tide levels over the central and northwestern Bahamas, and by as much as 5 to 8 feet above normal tide levels over the southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves. A storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 2 to 4 feet above normal tide levels along the north coast of Haiti.

Rainfall: Irene is expected to produce additional rainfall accumulations of 1 to 3 inches across Puerto Rico and Hispaniola. Isolated maximum storm total amounts of 15 inches are possible in association with Irene. These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mud slides in areas of steep terrain.  Rainfall accumulations of 6 to 12 inches are expected in the Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Next advisories

Next complete advisory: 5 a.m.

Latest Tropical Updates
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