The Connection

...IRENE WEAKENS A LITTLE...TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ARRIVING
ALONG THE COAST OF THE CAROLINAS.
SUMMARY OF 200 PM EDT...1800 UTC...INFORMATION -------------------
--------------------------- LOCATION...31.2N 77.5W ABOUT 300 MI...
480 KM SSW OF CAPE HATTERAS NORTH CAROLINA MAXIMUM SUSTAINED
WINDS...100 MPH...155 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...N OR 360 DEGREES AT
14 MPH...22 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...951 MB...28.08 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS NO CHANGES IN WATCHES AND
WARNINGS WITH THIS ADVISORY...
.NEW INFORMATION...
NONE
.AREAS AFFECTED...
THIS LOCAL STATEMENT PROVIDES IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS FOR PEOPLE AND MARINE INTERESTS IN SELECT
LOCATIONS AND COASTAL WATER LEGS OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN
VIRGINIA...NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA...AND THE LOWER EASTERN
SHORE...INCLUDING THE VIRGINIA PORTION OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY...
CURRITUCK SOUND...AND ADJACENT ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS.
.WATCHES/WARNINGS...
A HURRICANE WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
DORCHESTER...WICOMICO...SOMERSET...INLAND WORCESTER...MARYLAND
BEACHES...HERTFORD...GATES...PASQUOTANK...CAMDEN...INLAND
CURRITUCK...BERTIE...CHOWAN...PERQUIMANS...OUTER BANKS
CURRITUCK...NORTHUMBERLAND...LANCASTER...GLOUCESTER...MIDDLESEX...
MATHEWS...YORK...ISLE OF WIGHT...NEWPORT NEWS/HAMPTON...
NORFOLK/PORTSMOUTH...SUFFOLK...CHESAPEAKE...VIRGINIA BEACH...
ACCOMACK AND NORTHAMPTON VA.
FOR MARINE INTERESTS...A HURRICANE WARNING CONTINUES FOR
PORTIONS OF VIRGINIA PORTION OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY...CURRITUCK
SOUND...AND ADJACENT ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
NORTHAMPTON NC...HANOVER...CAROLINE...CHESTERFIELD...HENRICO...
KING WILLIAM...KING AND QUEEN...ESSEX...WESTMORELAND...RICHMOND...
BRUNSWICK...DINWIDDIE...PRINCE GEORGE...CHARLES CITY...NEW KENT...
GREENSVILLE...SUSSEX...SURRY...JAMES CITY AND SOUTHAMPTON.
A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN
VIRGINIA...NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA...AND THE LOWER EASTERN
SHORE. PLEASE LISTEN CLOSELY FOR ANY FLOOD WARNINGS THAT MIGHT BE
IN EFFECT FOR YOUR AREA.
.STORM INFORMATION...
AT 2 PM EDT...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IRENE WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 31.2N...LONGITUDE 77.5W. THIS WAS ABOUT 510 MILES
SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF OCEAN CITY MD...OR ABOUT 400 MILES SOUTH OF
NORFOLK VA. STORM MOTION WAS N OR 360 DEGREES AT 14 MPH. STORM
INTENSITY WAS 100 MPH.
.SITUATION OVERVIEW...
HURRICANE AND TROPICAL STORM WARNING HAVE BEEN ISSUED. WHEN
MAKING DECISIONS...DO NOT FOCUS ON THE EXACT FORECAST TRACK.
.PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
.NEXT UPDATE...
THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN WAKEFIELD AROUND 6 PM EDT...OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS
WARRANT.
...HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT...
...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
...PROBABILITY OF TROPICAL STORM/HURRICANE CONDITIONS...
THE CHANCE FOR HURRICANE CONDITIONS AT THIS TIME IS UP TO
27 PERCENT. ALSO...THE CHANCE FOR TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS AT
THIS TIME IS UP TO 92 PERCENT. THIS REPRESENTS A GENERAL
DOWNWARD TREND SINCE THE LAST FORECAST.
...WINDS...
AS HURRICANE IRENE APPROACHES...SUSTAINED TROPICAL STORM FORCE
WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN EARLY SATURDAY MORNING AND HURRICANE
FORCE WINDS EARLY SATURDAY EVENING. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ARE
FORECAST TO LAST FOR A FEW HOURS. MAXIMUM WINDS ARE FORECAST TO
BE IN THE 50 TO 70 MPH RANGE WITH GUSTS TO 80 MPH. THE STRONGEST
WINDS WILL BE NEAR THE COAST.
DAMAGING WINDS ARE EXPECTED. POORLY ANCHORED MOBILE HOMES MAY BE
DESTROYED...ALONG WITH THOSE OF OLD OR POOR CONSTRUCTION. SOME
WELL ANCHORED MOBILE HOMES WILL HAVE SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO
ROOFS...WALLS...AND WINDOWS...AND COULD BECOME UNINHABITABLE.
SOME HOMES OF FRAME CONSTRUCTION WILL SUSTAIN PARTIAL WALL AND
ROOF FAILURE...AND POSSIBLY BLOWN OUT WINDOWS. LOOSE OUTDOOR
ITEMS WILL BECOME PROJECTILES...CAUSING ADDITIONAL DAMAGE AND
POSSIBLE INJURY. MANY AREAS WILL EXPERIENCE POWER OUTAGES WITH
SOME DOWNED POWER POLES. NUMEROUS LARGE BRANCHES OF HEALTHY TREES
WILL SNAP. SOME TREES WILL BE UPROOTED...ESPECIALLY WHERE THE
GROUND IS SATURATED.
...STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE...
AS HURRICANE IRENE APPROACHES THE COAST...THERE IS AN INCREASING
CHANCE FOR COMBINED STORM SURGE AND ASTRONOMICAL TIDE WATERS UP
TO 8 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL WITHIN AREAS CLOSER TO THE COAST...
RESULTING IN WORST CASE FLOOD INUNDATION OF 4 TO 8 FEET ABOVE
GROUND LEVEL SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE SURGE ZONE.
THE LOCATIONS MOST LIKELY TO REALIZE THE GREATEST FLOODING
INCLUDE NORFOLK VIRGINIA BEACH AND AREAS ADJACENT TO THE
CHESAPEAKE BAY. THE MOST LIKELY PERIOD OF IMPACT WILL BE DURING
THE TIME OF HIGH TIDE...SATURDAY EVENING.
THERE IS AN ELEVATED THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY FROM COASTAL
FLOODING...POTENTIALLY HAVING A LOW BUT NOTABLE IMPACT. THE
CONCERN IS FOR THE CHANCE OF MINOR COASTAL FLOODING TO OCCUR IN
AREAS WITHIN THE SURGE ZONE...RESULTING IN SHALLOW INUNDATION. IF
REALIZED...PEOPLE WITHIN THE THREATENED AREAS WHO FAILED TO ACT
ACCORDING TO THEIR PERSONAL DISASTER PLAN WILL HAVE NEEDLESSLY
PLACED THEMSELVES AT SOME MEASURE OF RISK.
MANY HOMES AND BUSINESSES ALONG THE SHORELINE...OR IN FLOOD PRONE
AREAS...WILL LIKELY EXPERIENCE SOME WATER ENTERING INSIDE...
ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE STRUCTURES NOT RAISED OR PROTECTED BY A
SEAWALL. HIGHER WAVES AND POUNDING SURF WILL INCREASE THE
LIKELIHOOD OF PROPERTY DAMAGE NEAR THE COAST...ESPECIALLY IN
EXPOSED LOCATIONS. SOME CARS MAY TAKE ON WATER OR EVEN BECOME
DISPLACED.
MODERATE BEACH EROSION WILL OCCUR...WHICH MAY BECOME SUBSTANTIAL
IF CONDITIONS EXTEND THROUGH MULTIPLE HIGH TIDES. SEVERAL ROADS
IN FLOOD PRONE AREAS WILL LIKELY BE CLOSED.
...INLAND FLOODING...
A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE AREA. SEE LATEST
FORECAST FOR LATEST INFORMATION. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE FLOOD
WARNINGS FOR YOUR LOCATION...AND BE READY TO ACT IF FLOODING
RAINS OCCUR.
8 TO 12 INCHES OF STORM TOTAL RAINFALL IS EXPECTED ACROSS THE
AREA WITH THE HIGHEST AMOUNTS CLOSER TO THE COAST. LISTEN FOR
POSSIBLE FLOOD WARNINGS FOR YOUR LOCATION...AND BE READY TO ACT
IF FLOODING RAINS OCCUR.
...COASTAL HAZARDS...
THERE WILL BE A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG AREA BEACHES
TODAY AND SATURDAY. LARGE BREAKING WAVES...AND ROUGH SURF WILL
ALSO BE A THREAT. DUE TO RIP CURRENTS AND VERY ROUGH SURF...BEACH
GOERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO STAY OUT OF THE WATER.

...IRENE WEAKENS A LITTLE...TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ARRIVING
ALONG THE COAST OF THE CAROLINAS.
SUMMARY OF 200 PM EDT...1800 UTC...INFORMATION -------------------
--------------------------- LOCATION...31.2N 77.5W ABOUT 300 MI...
480 KM SSW OF CAPE HATTERAS NORTH CAROLINA MAXIMUM SUSTAINED
WINDS...100 MPH...155 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...N OR 360 DEGREES AT
14 MPH...22 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...951 MB...28.08 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS NO CHANGES IN WATCHES AND
WARNINGS WITH THIS ADVISORY...
.NEW INFORMATION...
NONE
.AREAS AFFECTED...
THIS LOCAL STATEMENT PROVIDES IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS FOR PEOPLE AND MARINE INTERESTS IN SELECT
LOCATIONS AND COASTAL WATER LEGS OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN
VIRGINIA...NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA...AND THE LOWER EASTERN
SHORE...INCLUDING THE VIRGINIA PORTION OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY...
CURRITUCK SOUND...AND ADJACENT ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS.
.WATCHES/WARNINGS...
A HURRICANE WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
DORCHESTER...WICOMICO...SOMERSET...INLAND WORCESTER...MARYLAND
BEACHES...HERTFORD...GATES...PASQUOTANK...CAMDEN...INLAND
CURRITUCK...BERTIE...CHOWAN...PERQUIMANS...OUTER BANKS
CURRITUCK...NORTHUMBERLAND...LANCASTER...GLOUCESTER...MIDDLESEX...
MATHEWS...YORK...ISLE OF WIGHT...NEWPORT NEWS/HAMPTON...
NORFOLK/PORTSMOUTH...SUFFOLK...CHESAPEAKE...VIRGINIA BEACH...
ACCOMACK AND NORTHAMPTON VA.
FOR MARINE INTERESTS...A HURRICANE WARNING CONTINUES FOR
PORTIONS OF VIRGINIA PORTION OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY...CURRITUCK
SOUND...AND ADJACENT ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
NORTHAMPTON NC...HANOVER...CAROLINE...CHESTERFIELD...HENRICO...
KING WILLIAM...KING AND QUEEN...ESSEX...WESTMORELAND...RICHMOND...
BRUNSWICK...DINWIDDIE...PRINCE GEORGE...CHARLES CITY...NEW KENT...
GREENSVILLE...SUSSEX...SURRY...JAMES CITY AND SOUTHAMPTON.
A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN
VIRGINIA...NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA...AND THE LOWER EASTERN
SHORE. PLEASE LISTEN CLOSELY FOR ANY FLOOD WARNINGS THAT MIGHT BE
IN EFFECT FOR YOUR AREA.
.STORM INFORMATION...
AT 2 PM EDT...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IRENE WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 31.2N...LONGITUDE 77.5W. THIS WAS ABOUT 510 MILES
SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF OCEAN CITY MD...OR ABOUT 400 MILES SOUTH OF
NORFOLK VA. STORM MOTION WAS N OR 360 DEGREES AT 14 MPH. STORM
INTENSITY WAS 100 MPH.
.SITUATION OVERVIEW...
HURRICANE AND TROPICAL STORM WARNING HAVE BEEN ISSUED. WHEN
MAKING DECISIONS...DO NOT FOCUS ON THE EXACT FORECAST TRACK.
.PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
.NEXT UPDATE...
THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN WAKEFIELD AROUND 6 PM EDT...OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS
WARRANT.
...HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT...
...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
...PROBABILITY OF TROPICAL STORM/HURRICANE CONDITIONS...
THE CHANCE FOR HURRICANE CONDITIONS AT THIS TIME IS UP TO
27 PERCENT. ALSO...THE CHANCE FOR TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS AT
THIS TIME IS UP TO 92 PERCENT. THIS REPRESENTS A GENERAL
DOWNWARD TREND SINCE THE LAST FORECAST.
...WINDS...
AS HURRICANE IRENE APPROACHES...SUSTAINED TROPICAL STORM FORCE
WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN EARLY SATURDAY MORNING AND HURRICANE
FORCE WINDS EARLY SATURDAY EVENING. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ARE
FORECAST TO LAST FOR A FEW HOURS. MAXIMUM WINDS ARE FORECAST TO
BE IN THE 50 TO 70 MPH RANGE WITH GUSTS TO 80 MPH. THE STRONGEST
WINDS WILL BE NEAR THE COAST.
DAMAGING WINDS ARE EXPECTED. POORLY ANCHORED MOBILE HOMES MAY BE
DESTROYED...ALONG WITH THOSE OF OLD OR POOR CONSTRUCTION. SOME
WELL ANCHORED MOBILE HOMES WILL HAVE SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO
ROOFS...WALLS...AND WINDOWS...AND COULD BECOME UNINHABITABLE.
SOME HOMES OF FRAME CONSTRUCTION WILL SUSTAIN PARTIAL WALL AND
ROOF FAILURE...AND POSSIBLY BLOWN OUT WINDOWS. LOOSE OUTDOOR
ITEMS WILL BECOME PROJECTILES...CAUSING ADDITIONAL DAMAGE AND
POSSIBLE INJURY. MANY AREAS WILL EXPERIENCE POWER OUTAGES WITH
SOME DOWNED POWER POLES. NUMEROUS LARGE BRANCHES OF HEALTHY TREES
WILL SNAP. SOME TREES WILL BE UPROOTED...ESPECIALLY WHERE THE
GROUND IS SATURATED.
...STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE...
AS HURRICANE IRENE APPROACHES THE COAST...THERE IS AN INCREASING
CHANCE FOR COMBINED STORM SURGE AND ASTRONOMICAL TIDE WATERS UP
TO 8 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL WITHIN AREAS CLOSER TO THE COAST...
RESULTING IN WORST CASE FLOOD INUNDATION OF 4 TO 8 FEET ABOVE
GROUND LEVEL SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE SURGE ZONE.
THE LOCATIONS MOST LIKELY TO REALIZE THE GREATEST FLOODING
INCLUDE NORFOLK VIRGINIA BEACH AND AREAS ADJACENT TO THE
CHESAPEAKE BAY. THE MOST LIKELY PERIOD OF IMPACT WILL BE DURING
THE TIME OF HIGH TIDE...SATURDAY EVENING.
THERE IS AN ELEVATED THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY FROM COASTAL
FLOODING...POTENTIALLY HAVING A LOW BUT NOTABLE IMPACT. THE
CONCERN IS FOR THE CHANCE OF MINOR COASTAL FLOODING TO OCCUR IN
AREAS WITHIN THE SURGE ZONE...RESULTING IN SHALLOW INUNDATION. IF
REALIZED...PEOPLE WITHIN THE THREATENED AREAS WHO FAILED TO ACT
ACCORDING TO THEIR PERSONAL DISASTER PLAN WILL HAVE NEEDLESSLY
PLACED THEMSELVES AT SOME MEASURE OF RISK.
MANY HOMES AND BUSINESSES ALONG THE SHORELINE...OR IN FLOOD PRONE
AREAS...WILL LIKELY EXPERIENCE SOME WATER ENTERING INSIDE...
ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE STRUCTURES NOT RAISED OR PROTECTED BY A
SEAWALL. HIGHER WAVES AND POUNDING SURF WILL INCREASE THE
LIKELIHOOD OF PROPERTY DAMAGE NEAR THE COAST...ESPECIALLY IN
EXPOSED LOCATIONS. SOME CARS MAY TAKE ON WATER OR EVEN BECOME
DISPLACED.
MODERATE BEACH EROSION WILL OCCUR...WHICH MAY BECOME SUBSTANTIAL
IF CONDITIONS EXTEND THROUGH MULTIPLE HIGH TIDES. SEVERAL ROADS
IN FLOOD PRONE AREAS WILL LIKELY BE CLOSED.
...INLAND FLOODING...
A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE AREA. SEE LATEST
FORECAST FOR LATEST INFORMATION. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE FLOOD
WARNINGS FOR YOUR LOCATION...AND BE READY TO ACT IF FLOODING
RAINS OCCUR.
8 TO 12 INCHES OF STORM TOTAL RAINFALL IS EXPECTED ACROSS THE
AREA WITH THE HIGHEST AMOUNTS CLOSER TO THE COAST. LISTEN FOR
POSSIBLE FLOOD WARNINGS FOR YOUR LOCATION...AND BE READY TO ACT
IF FLOODING RAINS OCCUR.
...COASTAL HAZARDS...
THERE WILL BE A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG AREA BEACHES
TODAY AND SATURDAY. LARGE BREAKING WAVES...AND ROUGH SURF WILL
ALSO BE A THREAT. DUE TO RIP CURRENTS AND VERY ROUGH SURF...BEACH
GOERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO STAY OUT OF THE WATER.