Moving in fast and furious, Hurricane Irene is expected to produce rainfall of 5 – 10 inch accumulations across Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, the Southeastern Bahamas and The Turks and Caicos Islands. Isolated maximum amounts of rainfall may reach up to 20 inches.
Word from NASA and National Hurricane Center:
When a satellite can see a hurricane’s eye clearly from space, that’s an indication of a strong tropical cyclone and the GOES-13 satellite saw just that in Hurricane Irene this morning as she became a major hurricane. An animation of GOES-13 satellite imagery released from NASA today shows Irene’s transition into a powerhouse and pinpointed when her eye became visible from space.
Hurricane Irene reached Category 3 status, with 115 mph winds this morning, the threshold for a major hurricane, at 8 a.m. EDT, August 24, 2011. It is headed toward the Crooked and Acklins Islands in the Bahamas.
Irene is expected to strengthen based on forecasts by the National Hurricane Center (NHC). The current forecast track for Hurricane Irene predicts the storm to make landfall in eastern North Carolina as a major hurricane by Saturday, August 27, 2011.
Please note: Category three hurricanes can cause “devastating damage” according to the NHC’s webpage. The Deadliest, Costliest, and Most Intense United States Tropical Cyclones, ranging from 1851 to 1900s killer weather system, Gavleston Hurricane into 2010, alongside other frequently requested hurricane facts is included here as a PDF document compiled by the NHC.
Vintage Allies suggests a battening down of the hatches. Be prepared, take all safety precautions to stay safe.