Hurricane Irene is raging the U.S. East Coast

Hurricane Irene is raging the U.S. East Coast and will affect the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast through the Weekend.   

At 5 a.m. EDT this morning, August 26, 2011,  Hurricane Irene was centered 420 miles south-southwest of Cape Hatteras, NC. (29.3N and 77.2 W) Max. winds 110 mph., moving north at 14 mph. Pressure 942 millibars.

WEEKEND UPDATES: on FACEBOOK and TWITTER: NASAHurricane 

HURRICANE FORECASTS: www.nhc.noaa.gov

NASA Infrared image- purple means strong t-storms, heavy rain

STRENGTH: some re-intensification is possible today...and irene is expected to be near the threshold between category two and three as it reaches the North Carolina coast.

SIZE:  Irene has continued to GROW over the last week. Irene is now almost 600 miles WIDE! - Tropical storm force winds extend 290 miles from the center. ***AND THE CENTER is expected to be only 30 miles off-shore from Ocean City, Md. )  Hurricane force winds extend to 90 miles from the center, or 180 miles in diameter.

RAINFALL...IRENE IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF

6 TO 10 INCHES...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 15 INCHES...FROM

EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA INTO SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINA...EASTERN

MARYLAND... DELAWARE...EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA...NEW JERSEY...

SOUTHEASTERN NEW YORK...LONG ISLAND...WESTERN CONNECTICUT...AND

WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS THROUGH MONDAY MORNING. THESE RAINS COULD

CAUSE WIDESPREAD FLOODING AND LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS.

STORM SURGE...AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS STORM SURGE WILL RAISE WATER

LEVELS BY AS MUCH AS 6 TO 11 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL IN THE

HURRICANE WARNING AREA IN NORTH CAROLINA...INCLUDING THE ALBEMARLE

AND PAMLICO SOUNDS. STORM SURGE WILL RAISE WATER LEVELS BY AS MUCH

AS 4 TO 8 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL OVER SOUTHERN POTIONS OF THE

CHESAPEAKE BAY. AND 3 TO 6 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL ALONG THE JERSEY SHORE.  

ALL COASTAL AREAS FROM NC TO NYC WILL EXPERIENCE HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS.

CREATE YOUR HURRICANE KIT

**EXPECT: POWER OUTAGES -- Winds may cause fallen trees after the ground is soaked.  -
Get batteries, bottled water, flashlights, and dry food, and a manual can opener.
***- Take CASH out  . Power may be out, and ATMS and Debit/credit cards may be useless. ***

**OR - get cash from point-of-purchase "cash" withdrawals at Supermarkets, etc.

** Buy an emergency radio.  One that operates with batteries, A/C or crank-to-charge. It includes AM/FM, 2 SW channels and some even include a weather channel.

 - Make sure any medications are set aside, and know where a suitcase is in case a tree falls near your home.

- freeze things like Ziploc bags or containers of water to help keep the freezer more "full" to help keep food frozen longer (a full freezer stays cold longer than a freezer only half full).

- Landlines and CORDED phones will work best in a storm. CELL phone coverage may be down if towers are damaged.

- Buy some "cooler cans" and keep them in the freezer in the event the power goes out.
 - Know of where shelters are located.
- Get gas in your car.

- Get a solar-powered flashlight (IF there are any left)
 - Make sure you have Tranquilizers (contact your vet) or  Benadryl for your PETS if they're afraid of Thunderstorms.
 - Make sure you have access to your pet's food, and bowls.
- BOTTLE water and put it in the refrigerator Saturday morning.
 -Take a cooler out in case the power goes out, and fill with ICE on Sat. evening.

WEATHER MAP http://i.imwx.com/images/maps/current/curwx_600x405.jpg  

NOAA WEATHER MAP: http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/noaa/noaa.gif     

FORECAST: BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON  - UNDER A TROPICAL STORM WARNING

 Tropical Storm force SUSTAINED  winds (Btwn 39-73 mph) with rainfall between 3-6"  

*WINDS:  Sustained Tropical Storm Force Winds Are Expected To Begin Early Saturday Evening , overnight and thru Sunday morning.

* HEAVY RAIN/FLOODING -

* COASTAL FLOODING - a storm surge of 2 to 3 feet is expected saturday and saturday night.

Today:  Mostly cloudy.  scattered showers and thunderstorms after noon, ending by midnight.  high near 87  Low 71

Saturday: Tropical storm conditions possible.  Showers / thunderstorms after 2pm.   Northeast wind increasing to 31 mph. GUSTS to 37 mph. High 80.

Saturday Night: Tropical storm conditions expected. Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. HEAVY RAINFALL, Winds SUSTAINED to 43 mph.. North wind 33 to 43 mph.     2 and 3 inches Rain possible. Low around 69.  **DO NOT GO OUTSIDE**

Sunday: Cloudy, WINDY, Sustained winds to 33 mph, decreasing in afternoon. Showers  ending by  2pm. Cloudy, with a high near 80.     1 and 2 inches RAIN possible.

Sunday Night:   Partly cloudy, scattered showers and breezy, with a low around 63.  

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81.

LIVE RADAR: http://radar.weather.gov/radar.php?rid=LWX&product=NCR&overlay=11101111&loop=yes