Hurricane Irene Path
Hurricane Irene originated from a tropical wave that moved off the west coast of Africa on August 15. The wave gradually organized and became a tropical depression on August 20, while located about 550 miles east of the Lesser Antilles. Over the next several days, it moved west-northwestward and steadily intensified, becoming a hurricane on August 22. Irene passed over Puerto Rico on August 22-23. It then moved northward, affecting the Bahamas and making landfall on the Outer Banks of North Carolina on August 27. From there, it tracked up the East Coast of the United States, bringing heavy rain, strong winds, and storm surge flooding to numerous areas, including New York City, before finally dissipating over eastern Canada on August 30.
Hurricane Irene Category
Hurricane Irene was classified as a Category 1 hurricane at its strongest point, with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h). However, it was a very large storm, with tropical-storm-force winds extending over 250 miles (400 km) from its center. The storm was also responsible for significant storm surge flooding along much of the eastern seaboard of the United States.
Damage by Irene
Hurricane Irene was responsible for significant damage and loss of life across the Caribbean and the eastern United States. In Puerto Rico, the storm caused widespread power outages and flooding, with over 100,000 people losing power at the height of the storm. In the Dominican Republic, at least 21 people were killed and thousands were left homeless. In the Bahamas, Irene caused severe flooding on several islands and damaged numerous buildings.
In the United States, the storm caused an estimated $15-20 billion in damage and resulted in at least 56 deaths. Some of the hardest-hit areas included Vermont, where the storm caused historic flooding that damaged homes, businesses, and infrastructure, and North Carolina, where the storm caused widespread power outages and flooding. In New York City, the storm caused significant flooding in low-lying areas, leading to widespread transportation disruptions and evacuations.
Overall, Hurricane Irene was one of the costliest and deadliest storms of the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season.