Irene over Abaco Island

Hurricane Irene Intermediate Advisory
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami, FL
200 PM EDT Thu Aug 25 2011

Eye of Irene over Abaco Island,

At 200 PM EDT the center of Hurricane Irene was located near latitude 26.5 north, longitude 77.2 west. Irene is moving toward the north-northwest near 14 mph. This motion is expected to continue through tonight with a turn toward the north by early Friday. On the forecast track, the core of the hurricane will move north of the northwestern Bahamas later today, and pass well offshore of the east coast of Central and North Florida tonight and early Friday. The hurricane is forecast to approach the coast of North Carolina on Saturday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 115 mph with higher gusts.

Irene is a category three hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

Some strengthening is possible today and tonight.

Irene is a large tropical cyclone. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 290 miles.