


The latest projected path of Hurricane Irene takes it over eastern North Carolina as a major hurricane this weekend, posing a severe threat to lives and property.
Given the setup in the atmosphere as well as where hurricanes have traveled from similar starting points, negotiating the Antilles, Irene may take a path similar to or east of Hurricane Bertha in 1996.
The difference between Bertha and Irene is that Bertha was a Category 2 hurricane at landfall. Irene should come onshore over the Carolinas as a strong Category 3 hurricane.
Irene would then become the strongest hurricane to strike the Carolinas since Fran in 1996
As we often see with a hurricane moving along this sort of path, the worst conditions will be near, north and east of the center of circulation.

Storms moving in this manner along the East coast of the United States tend to become lop-sided with dry air sweeping in west and southwest of the center promoting sunny skies.




