Hurricane Tracking Blog

As at 5 a.m. (EST) today, Hurricane Irene’s key indicators are:
Location…29.3n 77.2w
About 420 Mi…675 Km Ssw Of Cape Hatteras North Carolina Maximum Sustained Winds…110 Mph…175 Km/H
Present Movement…N Or 360 Degrees At 14 Mph…22 Km/H Minimum Central Pressure…942 Mb…27.82 Inches

Hurricane Irene has weakened slightly to a Category 2 storm as it approaches the Eastern seaboard. A new hurricane warning has now been extended to New Jersey. The new hurricane warning area extends from North Carolina’s coast, northward to Sandy Hook, N.J., just south of New York. A hurricane warning means hurricane conditions are expected within 36 hours. A hurricane watch has been issued for areas along the coast north of New Jersey, including Long Island, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, Mass.

Although Irene’s maximum sustained winds have decreased to 110 miles an hour, the National Hurricane Center said indicated that restrengthening is possible, and the storm is expected to be near the threshold between a Category 2 and 3 storm as it reaches North Carolina’s coast.

Hurricane Irene is expected to dump between five and 10 inches of rain throughout the mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions. Because much of these areas were already saturated from downpours earlier this year, residents have been warned to expect heavy flooding.

As at 5 p.m. (EST) today, Hurricane Irene was located at 27.0n 77.3w or about 575 Miles (930 Km) south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. It had maximum sustained winds of 115 Mph (185 Km/H) with a present movement direction of NNW (or 335 Degrees) at a speed of 14 Mph (22 Km/H).

Minimum Central Pressure…950 Mb…28.05 Inches.

A tropical storm warning has been issued for the coast of South Carolina from Edisto Beach northward to Little River inlet. A hurricane warning has been issued for the coast of North Carolina from Little River inlet northward to the Virginia border… including the Pamlico…Albemarle…and Currituck sounds

A hurricane watch has been issued for the east coast of the United States from the Virginia/North Carolina border northward to Sandy Hook, New Jersey … including Delaware Bay…and the Chesapeake Bay south of Smith Point.

A tropical storm watch has been issued for the Chesapeake Bay from Smith Point northward and the tidal Potomac.

For thousands of tourists in the barrier islands off North Carolina, the threat of Hurricane Irene has just cut their vacations short. Earlier today, North Carolina state officials ordered tourists and residents to find a safe spot farther inland. Local news reports have pegged the number of evacuees (tourists and residents) at approximately 200,000 persons.

A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions (with sustained winds of 74 mph (65 knots, 118 km/h) or higher) are expected somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds (conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous). Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.

A hurricane warning can remain in effect when dangerously high water or a combination of dangerously high water and exceptionally high waves continues, even though the winds may have subsided below hurricane intensity.

Tropical Storm Emily brushed past Puerto Rico yesterday, and now seemingly has its sights set on Haiti and the Dominican Republic. But how will Tropical Storm Emily affect Florida? Forecasts indicate that Emily will pass east of Florida’s Atlantic coast on Saturday (August 6), and will bring some intense weather to that State.

The waves are expected to be big, between 8 and 9 feet high, making the water extremely dangerous for swimmers and increasing the threat of rip currents. Already officials at the Coast Guard’s Cape Canaveral headquarters have stated that they have a plan in place to deal with any intense weather the Space Coast might see.

Brevard County lifeguards reportedly said they are increasing their numbers on duty for the weekend, and the American Red Cross already has volunteers on stand-by from Florida all the way up to North Carolina while also making sure that their storm shelters are ready to go, relief supplies are stocked and volunteers are on alert.

The prognosis is simple, Floridians must be prepared for whatever Tropical Storm Emily might bring.

Are you truly ready/prepared if a hurricane (or major tropical storm) were to strike now. Here’s our extended hurricane checklist:

• Garbage bags
• Lanterns
• Rain coats
• Batteries
• Machete
• Water storage containers
• Generator (if within budget)
• Chain saw
• Plywood
• Hammer and nails
• Tarpaulin
• Heavy duty gloves
• Emergency gas
• Tape
• Buckets
• Hurricane shutters
• Fire extinguishers
• Plastic sheeting
• Coolers and storage boxes