Hurricane Irene
Hurricane Irene was the first named storm of the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season, making landfall in late August and causing widespread destruction across the Caribbean and the eastern United States and Canada. Originating as a tropical disturbance near Africa, Irene rapidly intensified into a Category 3 hurricane, with wind speeds reaching up to 129 miles per hour, leading to significant damage and loss of life primarily in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and the Bahamas. The storm produced additional tornadoes and extensive power outages, resulting in nearly seventy fatalities overall.
After making its first landfall in North Carolina, Irene continued to affect several states including Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York, leading to catastrophic flooding and damages totaling billions of dollars. Although it was downgraded to a tropical storm as it moved north, Irene still caused considerable destruction, particularly from inland flooding in states like Vermont and Massachusetts. By the end of its path, the storm had impacted approximately nine million people with power outages, highlighting the importance of preparedness and timely warnings in mitigating loss of life. Irene's aftermath also set the stage for subsequent severe flooding from Tropical Storm Lee just days later.
Hurricane Irene
Date: August 21–28, 2011
Place: Caribbean; East Coast of the United States; Canada
Result: Over sixty people killed; estimated $15.8 billion in damages
Overview
Hurricane Irene was the first named storm to make landfall during the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season. The storm cut a wide swath of damage in the Caribbean and along the eastern coast of the United States and Canada over the span of a week in late August and left nearly seventy people dead in its path. The storm also was responsible for the development of several damaging tornadoes in North Carolina, Virginia, New York, and Pennsylvania during the same period and resulted in widespread power outages.
Origins
The storm that became Irene started as a tropical disturbance near Africa on August 15, 2011. Within six days, the disturbance developed into a tropical storm and was dubbed Irene by the National Weather Service. Early predictions anticipated the storm tracking across Florida and into the Gulf of Mexico. However, as the storm grew and intensified, its track shifted so that it struck Puerto Rico, the British Virgin Islands, the Dominican Republic, and the Bahamas.
Hurricanes are ranked according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which grades storms from one through five based on their wind speed. A Category 1 storm has damaging winds of 74 to 95 miles per hour, while Category 5 storm winds can reach 157 miles per hour or higher. Hurricane Irene was a Category 3 storm, with winds of 111 to 129 miles per hour, during its time in the Caribbean. Eight people died in the Caribbean, and the storm caused widespread power outages and at least $370 million in damage spread over the entire area before it continued north.
The worst of the storm bypassed Florida, which experienced rain and rough surf before the hurricane headed north along the eastern coast of the United States. In some areas of South Carolina, the storm caused beach erosion, local street flooding, and tree damage. Thousands were left without power, and damages were estimated to be at least $5 million.
First Landfall
Hurricane Irene was a Category 1 storm when it first made landfall near Cape Lookout on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Seven people died in the state, and the storm left at least $1.2 billion in damage in its wake. From there it continued into Virginia where the worst damage was felt inland. Thousands of homes and hundreds of roads were damaged, and five deaths were attributed to the storm. Damage in Virginia was estimated near $182 million. The nation’s capital also felt the storm’s fury; the District of Columbia sustained about $15 million in property damage, but no lives were lost.
Hurricane Irene caused more than $518 million in damage in Maryland and killed three people. Two more died in Delaware, where there was $43 million in storm damage. The storm caused widespread flooding and power outages across the eastern portion of Pennsylvania. The winds and drenching rain combined to uproot trees, and three people died after being struck by falling trees. An additional three people died of other causes, and the storm resulted in an estimated $58 million in property damage.
Additional Landfalls
As the storm moved up the eastern seaboard, the center of the hurricane moved out to sea and most of the damage was caused by its outer edges. Its eye, or center, made landfall for a second time in New Jersey near Atlantic City; for a third time in New York City; and for a fourth and final time in Connecticut. The hurricane had been downgraded to a tropical storm by this point but still had winds averaging 70 miles per hour and had enough moisture to drop up to ten inches of rain in some areas. Despite its downgraded status, Tropical Storm Irene caused significant damage. The storm was responsible for eleven deaths and $1 billion in damage in New Jersey; ten deaths and $1.3 billion in damages in New York State; and two deaths and $235 million in damage in Connecticut. There were no deaths in Rhode Island, but the storm caused nearly $104 million in damage, while Massachusetts lost one resident and incurred more than $194 million in damage. Six people were killed in Vermont and damages totaled $733 million, while New Hampshire had $35 million in damages and one death. Two were killed in Maine and damages were nearly $23 million, while Canada’s losses included one death and $130 million in property damage, with most of the damage occurring in Quebec. By this point, Irene had been downgraded to post–tropical storm status.
Impact
Even though Hurricane Irene was at its strongest near the more southern portions of America’s East Coast, the most significant damage was caused by inland flooding in New Jersey, Vermont, and Massachusetts, even after being downgraded to a tropical storm. Storm surges altered the landscape north along the coast from North Carolina. Torrential rains led to flash flooding that destroyed roads, bridges, railroad tracks, and homes. In addition to damaging homes and infrastructure, the storm affected farmlands, tourist venues in the Catskills and Adirondacks, and buildings, roads, and landscapes before the fall foliage visitor season.
Because the storm had been forecasted well in advance, residents had ample warning to prepare and access shelters, which minimized loss of life. Power outages, however, had the greatest impact, with at least nine million people affected and some communities experiencing outages for one week or longer.
Shortly after Irene marched through the area, Tropical Storm Lee then swept through, which led to record-breaking flooding during the first week of September in Pennsylvania, New York, and several New England states.
Bibliography
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Avila, Lixion A., and John Cangialosi. "Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Irene." NHC. National Hurricane Center, 11 Apr. 2012. Web. 18 May 2016.
Daniel, Matt. "The History of Hurricane Irene." EarthSky. EarthSky Communications, 2011. Web. 3 June 2016.
"Hurricane Irene 2011: One Year Anniversary of East Coast Storm." Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 24 Aug. 2012. Web. 18 May 2016.
"Hurricane Season 2011: Hurricane Irene (Atlantic Ocean)." NASA. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, n.d. Web. 18 May 2016.
"Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale." NHC. National Hurricane Center, n.d. Web. 18 May 2016.