Hurricane Irene Path

The latest forecasts indicate that Hurricane Irene is on the horizon of Cape Hatteras. Early forecasts (on Monday or Tuesday), showed that the storm would strike North Carolina, then curve away to the east. However, the most recent projections show that Irene is likely to embrace the east coast - in the same projection, which is exceptionally rare. It is a matter of time.

The arrival of Irene perfect timing with a hollow - a section of low pressure lying - lying to the south to north along the coast. This section provides a low pressure path of least resistance for the storm to travel. More importantly, it prevents the sharp blow Irene West Winds and push to the sea, is what happened with Hurricane Earl last year.

"With a cold front is only real - it's a convertible. - This area is an area of ​​low pressure to low pressure, tropical storms and hurricanes will follow this path," he told WJLA meteorologist Devon Lucie.

"This is a very unusual situation," said meteorologist Bob Ryan. "We have winds of Senior Management, which are usually strong push from west to east. This, because there the wave of the west, Irene pulls up the coast. "

Could the forecasts - which have already migrated to the west - to change even more as a path through the Delmarva Peninsula? It 'a chance, but Ryan gives a 20 percent chance that the storm trends west.

"Keep in mind that on Thursday, and the effect of a Saturday night comes Sunday."

The north runway is half the two dangers of Irene, and the reason to be a little worried. Recent reports have been providing Irene wind gusts over 101 mph for the Bahamas, despite more than 100 miles north of Nassau. Most hurricanes are more compact and offers hurricane force winds a few miles from the center. Assuming Irene remains a Category 2 hurricane, and remains close to the coast is parallel to DC, the eastern part of the region is fairly strong winds.

"If Irene holds together as it is, can we have high winds here in Washington DC," said Lucia. "Right now, the official forecast calls for at least tropical storm winds - just below the category 1-status - in some parts of the metropolitan area. " Western regions such as Loudoun County, not to see so much damage. "The metro area is a fine line [geographically]," said Lucia.

One thing is certain: on Thursday turning into Friday, there will be a watchful eye on the projected track Irene.