HURRICAINE IRENE NEWS
Weather Channel News - August 26, 2011
Hurricane Irene poses an extraordinary threat and is one that no one has yet experienced from North Carolina to the mid_Atlantic to the Northeast to New England. Hurricane Irene is a high end category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
Hurricane conditions are likely on Saturday night for the Delmarva Peninsula, NJ and even extreme southeast PA Saturday night. Inland sections from Baltimore and Washington DC to eastern PA can expect tropical storm conditions and heavy rain.
The New York metropolitan area will experience the worst conditions later Saturday night and Sunday with hurricane conditions possible along with destructive wind, heavy flooding rain, and storm surge with coastal flooding. Flooding and wind-related damage including downed trees, limbs, power lines, power outages, roof, window, and siding damage can be expected from North Carolina to New England by the time Irene moves away on Monday.
ABC News - August 26, 2011
Hurricane Irene has blown away the weekend plans of millions, from airports to cruise ships to island and beach holidays. The 11 casinos in Atlantic City, N.J., are expected to close for the weekend, though a formal decision won't be announced until casino executives meet at 2 p.m. Friday with local and state emergency management officials. Trains, subways, airports have been shut down. Amtrak has cancelled most trains traveling south of Washington, D.C., Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The railroad may make additional announcements as the storm travels north to curtail nearly all of its Northeast corridor services. While major airports remain open, airlines have cancelled nearly 1,000 flights.