Hurricane Irene Forecast for the Next Few Days Indicates Potential Category 3 or 4 Strength

The latest guidance from the National Hurricane Center indicates that Hurricane Irene which is now battering the Dominican Republic with 100+ winds will continue to track northwest and then turn up the east coast as it crosses North Carolina late Saturday night and early on Sunday. The GFS and other models bring the storm close enough to the New York City metropolitan area so that at least tropical force winds can be expected in parts of the heavy with heavy rains, high surf, beach erosion and coastal flooding. Long Island as usual appears to be in the position to receive the greatest impacts from this storm but this could change in the next few days.

George Wright is a Certified Consulting Meteorologist for Wright Weather Consulting, LLC. George is also a meteorologist with ABC News and Cablevision News 12. Our website is WrightWeather.com.