Hurricane Irene 2011 Path: Where Is The Storm Going? (MAPS)

Hurricane Irene grew to a Category 3 storm over the Bahamas on Wednesday, with forecasters predicting that the storm will hit the Carolina coasts and regions up through southern New England with torrential rain and strong winds.

According to the Associated Press:

Federal officials have warned Irene could cause flooding, power outages or worse all along the East Coast as far north as Maine, even if it stays offshore. The projected path has gradually shifted to the east and Irene could make landfall anywhere from South Carolina to Massachusetts over the weekend.

The following maps, published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, offer an idea of where Irene will be headed in the coming days.

UPDATE Aug. 25, 12:57pm: These maps have been updated from Wednesday's forecast to display the latest NOAA projections of Hurricane Irene's path. The storm is expected to reach Category 4 and could hit North Carolina by Saturday afternoon as it makes its way up the east coast.

UPDATE Aug. 26, 12:20pm: This post has once again been updated to reflect the latest NOAA projections of Hurricane Irene's path. For more information on the storm, please visit our Hurricane Irene live blog by clicking here.

This image shows approximately which coastal areas are under hurricane warning, hurricane watch, tropical storm warning, and tropical storm watch:

This second graphic shows estimated wind speeds for the remainder of the storm:

For more information, check out the following video:

Comments

[Shereen Roggio]

01:24 AM on 08/28/2011

Eye of the Storm ....
Headed Right for Area David is in - NY -

Wish I Can be There w Video Camera !
Also Would Love to be in Times Square (NOW) !!

David Get Your Floaties Ready + Hang ON :-)

[Olestra66]

01:02 AM on 08/28/2011

so far nothing but media hype, hope it stays that way

[NHGranite]

01:36 PM on 08/27/2011

600,000 people without power in the Carolinas and Virginia

[tastylatino24]

11:59 AM on 08/27/2011

Please Irene take the cast of Jersey Shore with you!!

[Hatima Transport]

08:21 PM on 08/27/2011

YOU ARE SO WRONG LMAO.....F&F

[Moarku]

11:31 AM on 08/27/2011

Sure would be nice to have a map that was less than a day old...

[bobjimflys]

01:31 PM on 08/27/2011

http://hurricane.accuweather.com/hurricane/atlantic/2011/irene/storm.asp?partner=ej

[Olestra66]

01:03 AM on 08/28/2011

thank you

[Katy Steinbruck]

01:51 PM on 08/27/2011

exactly

[blakewelding]

10:54 AM on 08/27/2011

NYC has just imposed a wind tax.

[Lellie]

10:27 AM on 08/27/2011

I wish everyone a safe ride through this thing!

It might be the moment to mention that just because American weather plotting stops at the Canadian border, it doesn't mean that the weather does. Hurricane Hazel almost destroyed Toronto in the 50's and Hurricane Juan caused a lot of destruction in Halifax just a few years ago.
Those tornadoes that threaten Michigan hop right across into Southern Ontario and are just as lethal.

We're all in this together!

[CarolRyderEsquire]

04:16 PM on 08/27/2011

Yes, we are all in this together and we must help each other as much as we can. See CarolRyderLaw.com for tips on surviving not just the storm but what to do with your pets in Suffolk County and Nassau County, Long Island. Then, tips on dealing with the aftermath, particularly, getting damages repaired, which involves battling with an overworked insurance company not eager to pay out, then getting a contractor and enough supplies. Surviving the aftermath involves doing something NOW, such as properly videotaping and photographing your property BEFORE the storm, and gathering receipts for home improvements made over the years (you should have had these in your tax folders anyway, and have a collection of photos tapes of your yearly taping of the contents of your home in case of fire, hurricane or other disaster). Remember what happened after Katrina, when insurers denied many many people coverage, arguing it was water, not wind, and therefore the insurance companies were not liable (claimed homeowners should have gotten flood insurance), wiping many people out of the only thing they had-their homes. An attorney experienced in battling insurance companies can save you tens of thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands of dollars by dealing with your insurer and getting the claim processed properly (e.g. using lessons learned from law practice, personal experience, and Katrina).

[kanatka]

07:43 PM on 08/28/2011

my family lost everything in Toronto during Hurricane Hazel. It happened before I was born but I have seen plenty of photos and heard stories until this day. Yes I agree, life doesn't stop at the American border... although some people and some media seems to treat it like it does. I hope you were all safe. I'm on the left coast now :)

[charon]

08:52 AM on 08/27/2011

People love adventures, something out of the ordinary. Kids get excited too, seeing nature up close, something they rarely get to see except on tv. I'm sure a great time will be had by all, especially the old men drinking in the bars at their hurricane parties!

[BringBackDemocracy]

12:09 AM on 08/27/2011

Anyone else feel like the media are over hyping this thing?

[funkiehouse]

03:22 AM on 08/27/2011

Just means they will need to delay a for a few more days!

[Marc NL]

11:19 AM on 08/27/2011

God is mad because only 90% is religious instead of a 100...

[Big RainBig Matter]

09:10 PM on 08/26/2011

Oh man the Hurricane Irena is going to hit me!! I live in New york,Brooklyn!!!! How will I survive?!?!?!?!?!?!

[funkiehouse]

03:21 AM on 08/27/2011

The same way you survived the earthquake, just stand there and look around!! :-)

[christinespug]

10:46 AM on 08/27/2011

Im in ny and yes its true I looked around.LOL

[Sharon Jeanguenat]

06:31 AM on 08/27/2011

Be prepared! And, don't be stupid!

[Jason Pevear]

08:57 PM on 08/26/2011

HurreVac, the program I use for Emergency Mangagement, makes much, much better maps. They need to get a GIS Analyst with some sense of creativity.

[Jerod Otis Drew]

08:18 PM on 08/26/2011

Man this is scary. Ive never been through a hurricane,. so your advice is helpful

i have compiled a bunch of info and links to help anyone if you need.
http://hurricaneirenehitsnewjersey.blogspot.com/

[seawarriorteam]

11:16 AM on 08/27/2011

Jerod--- just be prepared for loss of power. A large pizza ordered in advance goes a long ways and a couple of canned goods that you can tolerate eating cold. In regards to water--- fill bath tub. I recommend cleaning first--LOL. and lastly don't stress out, this is not a Katrina force hurricane so maybe, just maybe you will be inconvenienced but that's about it.

[almostlyniceguy]

08:04 PM on 08/26/2011

I want to knwo what Pat Robertson says about who's fault it is.

[Ngonyama]

01:19 PM on 08/27/2011

I doubt that he will admit it is his.

[NHGranite]

01:24 PM on 08/27/2011

IAOF

[Zotz123]

07:27 PM on 08/26/2011

The latest updates tell me that Irene's windspeeds are decreasing to barely in the hundreds. Having been through lots and lots of these that's just not a terrifying amount of wind. Yes, it's still good to stay inside and, if possible, protect your windows, but it's not going to blow your house down. Too many people are freaking out in these comments. A Category 1 hurricane is unhappy but not a really big deal. 3 or 4, yes. But it sounds like it won't get up there.

[Tony581]

08:52 PM on 08/26/2011

True for Grenada, Jamaica or the Bahamas, but not for New York City. 100 mph winds will be devastating in NYC. My prediction: tens of billions of dollars of damage. I hope I am wrong.

[Justin Shardy]

01:37 AM on 08/27/2011

Plus, it says it is already a 3 and likely to turn into a 4. Call me crazy, but most of the Northeast wasn't and and isn't build for such wind and water. Just as Tony581 said, I hope I am wrong as well.

[RjFlorida Florida]

09:59 AM on 08/27/2011

Yeah, your wrong. Floridians don't even get out of bed for a Cat 1, much less a Cat 1 that is headed to cool water. Hurricanes can't gain strength over the cool water, period.

The NC area thats getting hit right now needs to be careful, and the DC area needs to be careful but as far as the NY area goes this is not even worth staying indoors. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?3-daynl#contents

[funkiehouse]

03:27 AM on 08/27/2011

I agree!!!