Category 2 Hurricane Irene

Category 2 Hurricane Irene

As of 8:30 pm Hurricane Irene was upgraded to a category 2 hurricane and is expected to continue to strengthen possibly becoming a major hurricane on Tuesday.

Wind within the hurricane are now being sustained at 100 mph with higher gusts. These hurricane force winds now extend as far as 45 miles outward from the center of the storm.

Hurricane Irene has again slowed its pace, it is now heading west-northwest at 10mph a decrease of 3 miles per hour over the last few hours. The National Weather Service does expect this forward momentum to pick up again over night and into Tuesday.

The latest storm advisory came with no new changes in the watches and warnings. These watches and advisories are from the noaa.gov site (National Hurricane Center of the National Weather Service).


SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT…

A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR…

  • NORTH COAST OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC FROM THE HAITI BORDER EASTWARD TO CABO ENGANO
  • TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS…SOUTHEASTERN AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS

A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR…

  • NORTH COAST OF HAITI FROM LE MOLE ST. NICHOLAS EASTWARD TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC BORDER
  • NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR…

  • SOUTH COAST OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC FROM SANTO DOMINGO EASTWARD TO CABO ENGANO
  • ALL OF HAITI

As the storm continues tropical storm conditions will spread over the northern part of the Dominican Republic tonight with localized hurricane conditions over portions of the Northern Dominican Republic. Heavy rain falls are continued to be expected over the northern part of the Dominican Republic with the high likelihood of flash floods and mud slides.

It is expected that the central Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands will be hit much harder by the hurricane. Water levels are expected to raise as much as 9 – 13 feet above normal with even larger surge waves. Rainfall is expected to reach 5-10 inches and storm winds are expected to continue to intensify before reaching that area.

Internet is starting to become spotty as the storm is reaching my area so this is likely the last update I will be able to do tonight and possibly tomorrow.