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Event Information:
Hurricane Irene is an active North
Atlantic tropical cyclone that
currently poses a significant threat
to the Bahamas, the Atlantic Coast
of the United States, and Atlantic
Canada. The ninth named storm and
first hurricane of the season,
Irene developed from a well-defined
Atlantic tropical wave, which showed
signs of tropical development east
of the Lesser Antilles. It developed
atmospheric convection and a closed
cyclonic circulation center,
prompting the National Hurricane
Center to initiate public advisories
on the tropical cyclone late on
August 20. Subsequent convective
organization occurred as it passed
the Leeward Islands, and by August
21 it moved very close to Saint
Croix. The next day Irene made
landfall near hurricane strength on
Puerto Rico, where high winds and
intermittent torrents caused
moderate property damage. The
hurricane strengthened as it passed
into the southeast Bahamas, becoming
a major hurricane on August 24.
In
response to the formation of Irene,
tropical storm warnings were issued
for all of the Leeward Islands and
Puerto Rico. As Irene was forecast
to make landfall on Hispaniola, a
tropical storm watch was initially
issued for the south coast of the
Dominican Republic, though it was
upgraded to a hurricane warning on
August 21 after strengthening was
forecast. In light of the expected
intensification to hurricane status,
a tropical storm warning was also
issued for the northern coast of
that country, while a tropical storm
watch was put in effect for all of
Haiti; the tropical storm warning
for Puerto Rico was simultaneously
upgraded to a hurricane watch. Later
that day, all of the Dominican
Republic was placed under a
hurricane warning, with the tropical
storm watch for Haiti upgraded to a
warning and a tropical storm watch
initiated for the southeastern
Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos
Islands. As Irene's forecast track
became justified, the latter watch
was upgraded to a warning on August
22, while a hurricane watch was
declared for the central Bahamas.
Webcams in areas affected by
Hurricane Irene:
Local
Weather:
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