Hurricane irene damage
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Event Overview
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). Irene made landfall near Cape Lookout, North Carolina at around 7:30 AM EDT on August 27, 2011 as a strong category 1 storm (Figure 2). Irene caused 5 deaths in North Carolina. On the evening of August 26, well ahead of landfall, Hurricane Irene also spawned several tornadoes. One EF-2 tornado near Columbia in Tyrrell County demolished at least 4 homes and overturned cars.
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. Bunyan in Beaufort County reported 15.66 inches. Doppler Radar estimated totals of over 17 inches in portions of Beaufort, Craven and Pamlico Counties (Figure 4). Extensive storm surge and wind damage also occurred with Irene. The peak wind gust recorded was 115 mph at the Cedar Island Ferr
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Hurricane Irene
Category 3 Atlantic hurricane in 2011
This article is about the tropical cyclone in 2011. For other storms of the same name, see List of storms named Irene.
Hurricane Irene was a large and destructive tropical cyclone which affected much of the Caribbean and East Coast of the United States during late August 2011. The ninth named storm, first hurricane, and first major hurricane of the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season, Irene originated from a well-defined Atlantictropical wave that began showing signs of organization east of the Lesser Antilles. Due to development of atmospheric convection and a closed center of circulation, the system was designated as Tropical Storm Irene on August 20, 2011. After intensifying, Irene made landfall in St. Croix as a strong tropical storm later that day. Early on August 21, the storm made a second landfall in Puerto Rico. While crossing the island, Irene strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane. The storm paralleled offshore of Hispaniola, continuing to slowly intensify in the process. Shortly before making four land
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Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) east image of Hurricane Irene making landfall near New York City on August 28, 2011.
Overview
Hurricane Irene left a devastating imprint on portions of New England in late August 2011. Hurricane Irene made landfall across western Long Island, NY and was downgraded to a Tropical Storm as it moved into and through New England. The storm produced widespread, devastating flooding in Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, and New Jersey and damaging storm surge along the coasts of North Carolina and Connecticut. The storm did extensive damage to property and infrastructure mostly from high winds and flooding. Once the event was said and done, 44 people lost their lives from the hurricane, 1 of whom was from New Hampshire and there were 2 fatalities in Maine.
Storm Track
Irene made landfall near Cape Lookout, North Carolina on August 27 with an intensity of 75 kt, producing category 1 hurricane-force winds within a swath primarily to the east of the center over the North Carolina sounds
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