![]() The hurricane intensified into a Category 3 major hurricane as it recurved toward the northwest along a weakness in the subtropical ridge. Moving erratically through the southeast Bahamas over very warm waters, Irene quickly expanded as its outflow aloft became very well established. ![]() Just after its initial landfall, Irene was accordingly upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane, the first of the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season.Īfter briefly weakening on August 23, Irene began to develop a distinct eye encircled by an area of deepening convection the next morning. Despite the storm's interaction with land, radar imagery showed a ragged eye-like feature, and Doppler radar data indicated wind speeds in excess of hurricane force. Hours later, Irene moved ashore, approaching from the southeast at landfall near Punta Santiago, Puerto Rico, with estimated sustained winds of 70 mph. Virgin Islands, Irene moved toward Puerto Rico, more northward than initially expected, where it underwent a considerable increase in strength and organization. Over the subsequent day (August 22), while passing near the island of Saint Croix in the U.S. ![]() With the improved structure, as well as light wind shear and high sea surface temperatures, Irene was forecast to strengthen to near hurricane force prior to landfall in Hispaniola. On August 21, the surface center reformed closer to the deepest convection, as an anticyclone aloft provided supportive outflow over the cyclone. By 23Z on August 20, the depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Irene. With a favorable environment ahead of the wave, a Tropical Depression formed on August 20 as the wave approached the Lesser Antilles. Hurricane Irene evolved from a tropical wave that exited the African coast on August 15, 2011. Peak Wind Gusts from Hurricane Irene, August 27, 2011.The peak wind gust recorded was 115 mph at the Cedar Island Ferry Terminal in Carteret County. Note the large white area of over 17 inches over Beaufort, Craven and Pamlico Counties.įigure 5. Newport/Morehead City Doppler Radar Estimated Rainfall for Hurricane Irene. Rainfall Totals from Hurricane Irene, August 26-27, 2011įigure 4. Eye of Hurricane Irene making landfall near Cape Lookout, NC at 749 AM EDT, August 27, 2011įigure 3. (Source: National Hurricane Center)įigure 2. Track of Hurricane Irene, August 20 through 29, 2011. Ocean and Sound overwash created numerous breaches of Highway 12 along the Outer Banks.įigure 1. Trees were down throughout eastern North Carolina and thousands were left without electricity. The peak wind gust recorded was 115 mph at the Cedar Island Ferry Terminal in Carteret County as the eye was moving ashore (Figure 5). Extensive storm surge and wind damage also occurred with Irene. Doppler Radar estimated totals of over 17 inches in portions of Beaufort, Craven and Pamlico Counties (Figure 4). Bunyan in Beaufort County reported 15.66 inches. Precipitation totals associated with Irene were particularly high (Figure 3) with totals ranging from around 5 inches over the Northern Outer Banks, to around 15 inches in Beaufort County. One EF-2 tornado near Columbia in Tyrrell County demolished at least 4 homes and overturned cars. On the evening of August 26, well ahead of landfall, Hurricane Irene also spawned several tornadoes. Irene made landfall near Cape Lookout, North Carolina at around 7:30 AM EDT on Augas a strong category 1 storm (Figure 2). Hurricane Irene was a large and powerful Atlantic hurricane that left extensive flood and wind damage along its path through the Caribbean, the United States East Coast and as far north as Canada (Figure 1).
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