Hurricane Irene

Click on hurricane name to see current and projected track.

Hurricane Irene is the first significant hurricane headed toward the US in the 2011 season and, more specifically, the first major threat to the Eastern Seaboard. All residents and vacationers in potential landfall areas should initiate evacuation strategies and be sure to include pets in their emergency plans. Pet-friendly lodgings can be found on petswelcome.com by searching by state and city or using our Search by Route feature which will give driving directions with pet-friendly lodgings along the route. It is recommended that you call ahead to secure reservations so that you can be confident you have a safe place to stay during the storm. Also, for general animal safety planning during emergencies, please refer to the CASEY (Caring for Animals Safety in Emergency during the Year) Plan, drawn up by the Disaster Response Team of the Humane Society of the United States.

Below are the latest updates from the NOAA’s National Weather Service for Hurricane Irene:

Sunday, August 28th; 5:35 a.m.
The center of Hurricane Irene made landfall at Little Egg Inlet, New Jersey, or 10 miles East-Southeast of Atlantic City. Irene is moving toward the NNE near 18 mph and this motion accompanied by a gradual increase in forward speed is expected during the next day or so. On the forecast track the center of Irene will move near or over the coast of New Jersey and over western Long Island this morning and move inland over southern New England by this afternoon. Irene is a category one hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 125 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 320 miles. For information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by your local NWS forecast office.

Saturday, August 27th; 8 a.m.
National Weather Service Doppler indicates that the eye of Irene made landfall near Cape Lookout, North Carolina, around 7:30 a.m. EDT. The estimated intensity of Irene at landfall was 85 mph, making Irene a Category One hurricane. At 8:00 a.m. EDT the center of hurricane Irene was located near latitude 34.7 north, longitude 76.5 west. Irene is moving toward the north-northeast near 14 mph and this general motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours. The center of Irene will move across eastern North Carolina today. The hurricane is forecast to move near or over the Mid-Atlantic coast tonight and move over southern New England on Sunday. Slight weakening is forecast as Irene crosses eastern North Carolina, but Irene is forecast to remain a hurricane as it moves near or over the Mid-Atlantic states and New England. For storm information specific to your area in the U.S., please monitor products issued by your local NWS office.

Friday, August 26th; 8 p.m.
At 8:00 PM EDT the center of Hurricane Irene was located near latitude 32.1 north, longitude 77.2 west. Irene is moving toward the north-northeast near 14 mph and this general motion is expected to continue tonight and early Saturday. The core of the hurricane is forecast to approach the coast of North Carolina tonight and pass near or over the North Carolina coast on Saturday. The hurricane is forecast to move near or over the mid-Atlantic coast Saturday night and move over southern New England on Sunday. Maximum sustained winds remain near 100 mph, with higher gusts. Irene is a Category 2 hurricane. Little change in strength is forecast before Irene reaches the coast of North Carolina. Some weakening is expected after that, but Irene is forecast to remain a hurricane as it moves along the Mid-Atlantic coast on Sunday. For storm information specific to your area in the U.S., please monitor products issued by your local NWS forecast office.

Friday, August 26th; 8 a.m.
At 8:00 a.m. EDT the center of Hurricane Irene was located near latitude 30.0 north, longitude 77.3 west. Irene is moving toward the north near 14 mph and this motion is expected to continue during the next 24 hours, followed by a gradual turn toward the north-northeast. The core of the hurricane is forecast to pass well off the coast of northeastern Florida today, approach the coast of North Carolina tonight and pass near or over the North Carolina coast Saturday. The hurricane is forecast to move near or over the Mid-Atlantic coast Saturday night. Maximum sustained winds are near 110 mph, with higher gusts. Irene is a Category Two hurricane. 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. For storm information specific to your area in the U.S., please monitor products issued by your local NWS forecast office.

Thursday, August 25th; 8 a.m.

Wednesday, August 24th; 8 a.m.
Hurricane Irene has become a Category 3 Hurricane (sustained winds between 111 and 130 mph). At 8:00 a.m. EDT the eye of hurricane Irene was located near latitude 21.9 north, longitude 73.3 west. Irene is moving toward the west-northwest near 9 mph though a gradual turn toward the northwest is expected later today. Irene is forecast to move across the southeastern and central Bahamas today and over the northwestern Bahamas on Thursday. Data from an air force reserve hurricane hunter aircraft indicate that the maximum sustained winds have increased to near 115 mph, with higher gusts. Irene is a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. Some additional strengthening is forecast during the day. The current forecast track brings the center of a somewhat-weakened Irene just off the Va./N.C. coast on Sunday morning and over New England by Monday morning, although it is important not to focus on the exact forecast track, especially several days out.