8:30 AM | Hurricane Irene to have a serious impact on the DC region with heavy rain and strong winds
Paul Dorian
6-Day Forecast
Today
More clouds than, very warm and more humid with showers and thunderstorms possible during the mid-day and afternoon, some of the storms will be severe with strong winds, brief downpours and possible hail, highs in the upper 80’s
Tonight
Evening showers and thunderstorms still possible and some of the storms will be strong, lows in the upper 60’s
Friday
Partly sunny, warm, mid-to-upper 80’s; chance for showers and thunderstorms late at night
Saturday
Showers and thunderstorms overspreading the region and then heavy rainfall and strong winds by nightfall, low 80’s for highs
Sunday
Heavy rain and strong winds during the morning hours then mostly cloudy, humid, windy during the PM, upper 70’s
Monday
Partly sunny, breezy, near 80
Tuesday
Partly sunny, warm, highs in the low 80’s
Discussion
Despite the threat for severe thunderstorms later today and early tonight, the main story is the approach of dangerous Hurricane Irene. Irene continues to be a major threat to the Mid-Atlantic region this weekend with numerous power outages and flooding issues likely. Irene is headed for the Outer Banks region of North Carolina as a major hurricane (ie category 3 or higher) by later Saturday and then will move along the east coast to a position near New York City by Sunday night – likely as a category 1 hurricane. By early Monday, Irene will likely be near western Massachusetts as it finally weakens into a tropical storm. This storm has several ominous features that make it a very dangerous storm for the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast; especially, along the coast from North Carolina to Maine. First, it is a powerful hurricane - possibly reaching category 4 before making landfall on Saturday. Second, it is a larger-than-normal hurricane which means it will contain heavy rain and strong winds over a very large area. Third, it appears that this system will only slowly weaken as it rides up the east coast. All of this suggests an extreme weather event is in the offing near and along the coast from North Carolina to Maine and heavy rain and strong winds will occur inland as well back to near the I-95 corridor. All of the major cities from DC to Boston will be impacted by Irene this weekend with the brunt of the storm here later Saturday into early Sunday including wind gusts to 60 mph. Stay tuned for updates on this serious weather event for the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
Video
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDJBwFUlbjg