NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE (12:20 PM SATURDAY): SITUATION OVERVIEW...HURRICANE IRENE IS FORECAST TO TRACK NORTHWARD ALONG THE EAST COAST...WITH THE CENTER OF THE HURRICANE PASSING VERY CLOSE TO THE COASTS OF DELAWARE AND NEW JERSEY FROM LATE TONIGHT INTO SUNDAY MORNING. THE STORM WILL BRING DAMAGING WINDS...TORRENTIAL RAIN WITH DANGEROUS FLOODING...AND COASTAL FLOODING.
OVERALL...6 TO 10 INCHES OF RAINFALL IS EXPECTED WITH A FEW LOCATIONS RECEIVING OVER 12 INCHES. HEAVY AND POSSIBLY RECORD SETTING RAINFALL AMOUNTS THROUGH SUNDAY WILL LIKELY RESULT IN MAJOR FLOODING ACROSS PORTIONS OF NEW JERSEY...EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA...DELAWARE AND NORTHEASTERN MARYLAND. SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS ARE HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO FLASH FLOODING. THE RARITAN AND SCHUYLKILL RIVERS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO REACT RATHER QUICKLY AND ARE HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO FLOODING. THE DELAWARE...SUSQUEHANNA AND PASSAIC RIVERS REACT MORE SLOWLY. HOWEVER...THEY ALSO ARE HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO FLOODING FROM THIS RAINFALL EVENT.
…HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT…
…PROBABILITY OF TROPICAL STORM/HURRICANE CONDITIONS…
THE CHANCE FOR HURRICANE CONDITIONS AT THIS TIME IS 17 PERCENT. ALSO…THE CHANCE FOR TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS AT THIS TIME IS UP TO 91 PERCENT.
…WINDS AND SEAS… AS HURRICANE IRENE APPROACHES…SUSTAINED TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN EARLY THIS AFTERNOON AND HURRICANE
FORCE WINDS LATE THIS EVENING. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ARE FORECAST
TO LAST FOR MANY HOURS. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE FORECAST TO BE IN THE 50 TO 70 KNOTS RANGE WITH GUSTS TO 75 KNOTS.
THE SEAS WILL BUILD QUICKLY AS THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IRENE ARRIVES…WITH WAVE HEIGHTS REACHING AT LEAST 20 FEET ON THE ATLANTIC WATERS. WAVES SHOULD BE 5 TO 10 FEET ON DELAWARE BAY…UP TO 15 FEET AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE BAY
…TORNADOES AND WATERSPOUTS…
THERE IS A CHANCE FOR WATERSPOUTS TODAY THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY IN THE RAIN BANDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE HURRICANE. A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT.
…HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT…
…NEW INFORMATION… UPDATED PROBABILITIES. UPDATED TORNADO INFORMATION.
…PROBABILITY OF TROPICAL STORM/HURRICANE CONDITIONS…
THE CHANCE FOR HURRICANE CONDITIONS AT THIS TIME IS 12 TO
22 PERCENT. ALSO…THE CHANCE FOR TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS AT THIS TIME IS 86 TO 92 PERCENT.
…WINDS AND SEAS… AS HURRICANE IRENE APPROACHES…SUSTAINED TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN LATE THIS MORNING AND HURRICANE FORCE WINDS LATE THIS EVENING. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ARE FORECAST TO LAST FOR MANY HOURS. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE FORECAST TO BE IN THE 50 TO 70 KNOTS RANGE WITH GUSTS TO 75 KNOTS.
SEAS ON THE ATLANTIC OUTER COASTAL WATERS MAY REACH OR EXCEED 25 FEET FOR A TIME FROM TONIGHT INTO SUNDAY MORNING.
…TORNADOES AND WATERSPOUTS…
THERE IS A CHANCE FOR WATERSPOUTS TODAY THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY IN THE RAIN BANDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE HURRICANE. A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT.
