Miami, Florida—(ENEWSPF) August 28, 2011 – UPDATE 11 AM EDT. The National Hurricane Center in Miami reports that the center of Tropical Storm Irene is inland over southeastern New York State and southern New England.
Summary of 11 AM EDT (1500 UTC) Information
Tropical Storm Irene is located 41.4 N, 73.7 W, about 10 miles (20 km) W of Danbury, Connecticut. Maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h). Irene’s present movement is NNE or 20 degrees at 26 mph (43km/h). Minimum central pressure is 966 mb (28.53.inches).
Watches and Warnings
Changes in Watches and Warnings With This Advisory
The Hurricane Warning from Chincoteague, Virginia to Sagamore Beach, Massachusetts is changed to a Tropical Storm Warning. All warnings have been discontinued along the Atlantic Coast south of Chincoteague and for Chesapeake Bay south of North Beach.
Summary of Watches and Warnings in Effect
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:
- Chincoteague, Virginia northward to Eastport, Maine including Chesapeake Bay north of North Beach, Delaware Bay, New York City, Long Island, Long Island Sound, coastal Connecticut and Rhode Island, Block Island, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket
- United States/Canada border northeastward to Fort Lawrence including Grand Manan
- South coast of Nova Scotia from Fort Lawrence to Porters Lake
Interests elsewhere in eastern Canada should monitor the progress of Irene.
For storm information specific to your area in the United States, including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your Local National Weather Service Forecast Office.
For storm information specific to your area outside the United States, please monitor products issued by your National Meteorological Service.
Discussion and 48-Hour Outlook
At 11 AM EDT (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Irene was located near latitude 41.4 north, longitude 73.7 west. Irene is moving toward the north-northeast near 26 mph (43 km/h)and this motion with a little faster forward speed is expected over the next day or so. On the forecast track, the center of Irene will move over northern New England later today and over eastern Canada tonight.
Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph (95 km/h)with higher gusts. Irene is forecast to weaken and become a Post-Tropical Cyclone by tonight.
Tropical Storm force winds extend outward up to 320 miles (520 km) from the center. A weatherflow station on Fire Island recently reported sustained winds of 50 mph (80 km/h) with a gust to 63 mph (101 km/h).
Estimated minimum central pressure is 966 mb (28.53 inches). Central Park in New York City reported 966.5 mb (28.54) as the center passed this morning.
Hazards Affecting Land
An extremely dangerous storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 4 to 8 feet above ground level from western portions of Long Island sound eastward along the southern coasts of Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. The highest surges will occur near the upper parts of bays and inlets. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large, destructive, and life-threatening waves. Higher than normal astronomical tides are occurring this weekend. Coastal and river flooding will be highest in areas where the peak surge occurs around the time of high tide. Storm tide and surge values are very location-specific, and users are urged to consult products issued by their Local National Weather Service Offices. Water levels along the New Jersey and Delaware coast, including Delaware Bay will subside today.
Irene is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 4 to 8 inches, with isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches, from northeastern Pennsylvania and northern New Jersey northward into New York State and interior New England. These rains, combined with heavy rains over the past few weeks, could cause widespread flooding, life-threatening flash floods, and significant uprooting of trees due to rain-softened grounds.
Tropical Storm force winds will spread northward into northern New England and Atlantic Canada today. Winds affecting the upper floors of high-rise buildings could be significantly stronger than those near ground level.
Isolated tornadoes are possible over southern New England this afternoon.
Surface Wind Field
Click image to zoom in ![[Image of initial wind radii]](http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/storm_graphics/AT09/refresh/AL0911R_sm2+gif/151356R_sm.gif)
About this product:
This graphic shows the areas potentially being affected by the sustained winds of tropical storm force (in orange) and hurricane force (in red). The display is based on the wind radii contained in the latest Forecast/Advisory (indicated at the top of the figure). Users are reminded that the Forecast/Advisory wind radii represent the maximum possible extent of a given wind speed within particular quadrants around the tropical cyclone. As a result, not all locations falling within the orange or red shaded areas will be experiencing sustained tropical storm or hurricane force winds, respectively.
In addition to the wind field, this graphic shows an approximate representation of coastal areas under a hurricane warning (red), hurricane watch (pink), tropical storm warning (blue) and tropical storm watch (yellow). The white dot indicates the current position of the center of the tropical cyclone, and the dashed line shows the history of the center of the tropical cyclone.
Source: nhc.noaa.gov
