The Eastern Seaboard of the United States is bracing itself for the arrival of Hurricane Irene, expected to make landfall on Saturday 27 August 2011.
These live webcam views are tracking the progress of the hurricane:
Hurricane Irene Webcam Streaming Online
Hurricane Irene Information:
Hurricane Irene is an active North Atlantic tropical cyclone that currently poses a significant threat to the Bahamas, the Atlantic Coast of the United States, and Atlantic Canada. The ninth named storm and first hurricane of the 2011 season, Irene developed from a well-defined Atlantic tropical wave, which showed signs of tropical development east of the Lesser Antilles. It developed atmospheric convection and a closed cyclonic circulation center, prompting the National Hurricane Center to initiate public advisories on the tropical cyclone late on August 20. Subsequent convective organization occurred as it passed the Leeward Islands, and by August 21 it moved very close to Saint Croix. The next day Irene made landfall near hurricane strength on Puerto Rico, where high winds and intermittent torrents caused moderate property damage. The hurricane strengthened as it passed into the southeast Bahamas, becoming a major hurricane on August 24.
In response to the formation of Irene, tropical storm warnings were issued for all of the Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico. As Irene was forecast to make landfall on Hispaniola, a tropical storm watch was initially issued for the south coast of the Dominican Republic, though it was upgraded to a hurricane warning on August 21 after strengthening was forecast. In light of the expected intensification to hurricane status, a tropical storm warning was also issued for the northern coast of that country, while a tropical storm watch was put in effect for all of Haiti; the tropical storm warning for Puerto Rico was simultaneously upgraded to a hurricane watch. Later that day, all of the Dominican Republic was placed under a hurricane warning, with the tropical storm watch for Haiti upgraded to a warning and a tropical storm watch initiated for the southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. As Irene's forecast track became justified, the latter watch was upgraded to a warning on August 22, while a hurricane watch was declared for the central Bahamas.
