According to the National Weather Service, this is what they expect to happen in Charlestown during Irene’s passage through our area:
Tonight: Tropical storm conditions expected, with hurricane conditions possible. Rain and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Patchy fog. Low around 75. East wind 9 to 14 mph increasing to between 33 and 38 mph. Winds could gust as high as 46 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Sunday: Tropical storm conditions expected, with hurricane conditions possible. Rain and possibly a thunderstorm before 3pm, then rain likely. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Patchy fog. High near 76. South wind 55 to 65 mph increasing to between 50 and 70 mph. Winds could gust as high as 85 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 2 and 3 inches possible.
Sunday Night: A chance of showers, mainly before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Breezy, with a west wind 21 to 24 mph decreasing to between 9 and 12 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Sunday Night: A chance of showers, mainly before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Breezy, with a west wind 21 to 24 mph decreasing to between 9 and 12 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
There has been no change in Charlestown’s advisory on evacuations – mandatory if you right on the water; voluntary if you live south of Route 1-A.
Here is a 14-second video from NASA, taken from one of its weather satellites that shows how Irene formed and began it move up the coast.: