Hurricane Irene could become Category 4 by Thursday

MSNBC ^ | 8/25/2010 | MSNBC Staff

[AngieGal]

Forecasters say Hurricane Irene that is taking aim at the East Coast could become a Category 4 monster by Thursday.

The National Hurricane Center late Wednesday said Irene is approaching the northwestern Bahamas as a Category 3 storm with winds at 120 mph.

But forecasters say that could increase quickly over the next day.

Hurricane and tropical storm watches will likely be required for parts of the coast of the Carolinas by early Thursday.

Winds in Category 4 storms are more than 131 mph.

[23 Everest]

And maybe not. Might be a cloudy day.

[23 Everest]

And maybe not. Might be a cloudy day. And it might just not even touch land.

[Drill Thrawl]

Shame that Bambi and The Mooch will have ample time to leave CC

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

People I know and respect are making me mad over this. I’m not in the least concerned over what the storm will do to the Charleston area as it currently looks like it wont be as bad for us as the severe Tstorms we’ve had in the past couple of days. Some here are still edgy and almost in a state of panic. If projections are accurate we may not get anything except rip currents at the beach. My concern is for those who live in and near the North Carolina Outer Banks and the Northeastern cities that may take a hit. I wish the damn thing would miss everybody.

[Jedidah]

Latest models are showing a direct hit on NYC. This could be very bad.

[buccaneer81]

Looks a lot like Hurricane Bob in 1991, except that Bob was in October with cooler water. New England could be in for a really bad time.

I went through Gloria (1985) and Bob (1991) which were major nuisances. Irene could be much worse.

[Stonewall Jackson]

Right now, it looks like it might come ashore on Long Island around midday on Sunday. This will have the leading edge of the storm funnelling all of its waves and stormsurge straight into the mouth of New York Harbor earlier in the day...and high tide is at 9:10 that morning.

Prayers up. This could get ugly.

[justa-hairyape]

The ocean water just north of the Bahamas is at normal temps for this time of year. Latest track has it steering more east. Water near the coast of New England however is warmer then normal for this time of year.

[SueRae]

Okay, everybody on or near the Eastern seaboard...face East and BLOW!!! Maybe we can push it out to sea. I’m willing to try just about anything. ;-)

[freekitty]

Praying for you guys out that way.

[Semper911]

except that Bob was in October with cooler water.

Nope, Hurricane Bob was in August 1991. A Monday. I lived on Cape Cod at the time and it was a horrible storm. I will never forget all the uprooted trees and boats washed up into the woods. And I was without power for 9 days.

[Semper911]

Also, Bob hit at dead low tide. The forecast for this beast is at high tide with new moon.

I am in RI now, but not near the coast. Getting nervous about this one.

[SoldierDad]

Na, don’t need everybody. Just have Hillary stand on the beach and blow.

[unkus]

Hitlery hasn’t done that in years.

[SoldierDad]

What? That blow-hard? Everytime she opens her big hairy mouth.

[wastoute]

IIRC NYC is a libtard infested rathole. A hurricane just may be the enema they need.

[buccaneer81]

Nope, Hurricane Bob was in August 1991.

You're right. I must have had too many Margaritas that summer ( I had been married two months before.)

[silverleaf]

dang nabbit, looks like a bread milk batteries and toilet paper run tomorrow

and chocolate

and rum

[nurees]

Ack!! I am flying to Boston for a trade show Saturday through Wed.