Hurricane Irene Update

Good afternoon everyone. A line of showers and storms is working southward across central and eastern Kentucky this afternoon. This is ahead of a cold front slowly working across the region. Other than that… the weather looks fairly quiet for a few days as we focus our attention on Hurricane Irene.

I understand this is a site about Kentucky weather… but there are some national weather stories that are just too big and threatening not to cover. Hurricane Irene is just such a story as it blasts the east coast over the next several days.

This has the potential to be a historic storm that impacts areas that don’t normally get much for the tropics. Places like Norfolk, Dover, Philadelphia, Atlantic City and New York City are all in line for a major hit from this Hurricane.

Irene is a MASSIVE storm in terms of size. You can see that well on the sat shot…

The latest forecast and information from the National Hurricane Center…

The latest hurricane model forecasts look like this…

Several of those are tightly clustered with a strike right on top of New York City. That hasn’t happened since back in the late 1800’s.

Lost in the shuffle in all this will be the hit North Carolina takes. A category 3 hurricane is going to slam the Outer Banks and other sections of the coastline.

It is interesting to note in all this that the European Model continues to be the farthest west with the path of Irene…

Can you imagine the devastation that would cause along the Virginia tidewater?

I will have a TON of tracking maps, cams and forecast models in the coming days, so be sure to check back. I won’t leave you hanging with the weather back here in Ky and will have updates on our weekend and beyond and if we get any impact from Irene.

Have a great Thursday and take care.

14 Comments

MS on August 25, 2011 at 5:11 pm

I have already posted several webcams, police scanners, and a couple of news stations to track Irene as she approaches the mainland. Look at “Seeing Irene” post on my blog…click initials above.

blizzardtim on August 25, 2011 at 5:14 pm

here is a cool hurricane tracking tool i found..

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26295161/ns/weather/?GT1=43001

Coffeelady on August 25, 2011 at 7:08 pm

Thanks for the update, Chris. With family on the east coast of Florida, I am always edgy when a hurricane is that close. I don’t wish this one on anyone. Looking forward to seeing what you have to say about our weather in relation to Irene. Could it be strong enough to ward off the steering of the front that is passing through here? Just wondering.

John T on August 25, 2011 at 7:24 pm

Scary forecast. As a Kentucky native and now Norfolk resident, I’m keeping a close eye out. Anybody know how the European model typically fares when it comes to hurricane forecasts? I’d like to see that eye stay offshore a bit further and have us be a tad to the west of the worst of it…

eyewall on August 25, 2011 at 7:42 pm

Recon flight just reported maximum surface winds of 161 m.p.h., which extrapolates to 158 m.p.h. sustained surface winds. Date is probably suspect, but if that verifies we wold have a Cat 5 on our hands. Big trouble for a lot of people. Even if it weakens, it would push a Cat 5 storm surge up the coast.

MS on August 25, 2011 at 7:59 pm

Palm Beach FL webcam as one of Irene’s bands move in…lots of whitecaps rolling onshore.

MS on August 25, 2011 at 8:01 pm

Uh…oops
http://www.earthcam.com/usa/florida/palmbeach/

patty on August 25, 2011 at 8:18 pm

Wow! The rain is really hitting them now!!

eyewall on August 25, 2011 at 8:38 pm

There are people playing in that surf. You’ve got to be kidding me. Anyway, I think that’s Scarface’s house.

WXman on August 25, 2011 at 11:50 pm

By far, the worst of this will be the flooding and storm surge that will innundate the coast. Water will be moving in directions people there are not used to, and this is going to be catastrophic IF this model projection holds.

endleswavz on August 26, 2011 at 1:35 am

It’s been a while since I posted but I thought that I would send everyone in Kentucky a warm and balmy greeting from Quantico, VA! I’ll keep you up to date on our weather starting Saturday afternoon until we loose power. We are already bracing for the worst case. We shall see what happens. As if the earthquake wasn’t exciting enough! Be safe and watch for my updates!

mitch on August 26, 2011 at 1:55 am

already record rain for the month in philly.

patty on August 26, 2011 at 1:58 am

Thanks and stay safe!

eyewall on August 26, 2011 at 2:23 am

Hunker down, big time. Been there, done that.

MS on August 25, 2011 at 5:11 pm
I have already posted several webcams, police scanners, and a couple of news stations to track Irene as she approaches the mainland. Look at “Seeing Irene” post on my blog…click initials above.
blizzardtim on August 25, 2011 at 5:14 pm
here is a cool hurricane tracking tool i found..
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26295161/ns/weather/?GT1=43001
Coffeelady on August 25, 2011 at 7:08 pm
Thanks for the update, Chris. With family on the east coast of Florida, I am always edgy when a hurricane is that close. I don’t wish this one on anyone. Looking forward to seeing what you have to say about our weather in relation to Irene. Could it be strong enough to ward off the steering of the front that is passing through here? Just wondering.
John T on August 25, 2011 at 7:24 pm
Scary forecast. As a Kentucky native and now Norfolk resident, I’m keeping a close eye out. Anybody know how the European model typically fares when it comes to hurricane forecasts? I’d like to see that eye stay offshore a bit further and have us be a tad to the west of the worst of it…
eyewall on August 25, 2011 at 7:42 pm
Recon flight just reported maximum surface winds of 161 m.p.h., which extrapolates to 158 m.p.h. sustained surface winds. Date is probably suspect, but if that verifies we wold have a Cat 5 on our hands. Big trouble for a lot of people. Even if it weakens, it would push a Cat 5 storm surge up the coast.
MS on August 25, 2011 at 7:59 pm
Palm Beach FL webcam as one of Irene’s bands move in…lots of whitecaps rolling onshore.
MS on August 25, 2011 at 8:01 pm
Uh…oops
http://www.earthcam.com/usa/florida/palmbeach/
patty on August 25, 2011 at 8:18 pm
Wow! The rain is really hitting them now!!
eyewall on August 25, 2011 at 8:38 pm
There are people playing in that surf. You’ve got to be kidding me. Anyway, I think that’s Scarface’s house.
WXman on August 25, 2011 at 11:50 pm
By far, the worst of this will be the flooding and storm surge that will innundate the coast. Water will be moving in directions people there are not used to, and this is going to be catastrophic IF this model projection holds.
endleswavz on August 26, 2011 at 1:35 am
It’s been a while since I posted but I thought that I would send everyone in Kentucky a warm and balmy greeting from Quantico, VA! I’ll keep you up to date on our weather starting Saturday afternoon until we loose power. We are already bracing for the worst case. We shall see what happens. As if the earthquake wasn’t exciting enough! Be safe and watch for my updates!
mitch on August 26, 2011 at 1:55 am
already record rain for the month in philly.
patty on August 26, 2011 at 1:58 am
Thanks and stay safe!
eyewall on August 26, 2011 at 2:23 am
Hunker down, big time. Been there, done that.

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