The Path of the Storm

Satellite view of Hurricane Irene

Hurricane Irene was the first hurricane to hit the United States in 2011. Do you know what a hurricane is? A hurricane is a huge storm. Hurricanes form in tropical parts of the world during a certain time of year. This time of year is known as hurricane season. Hurricane season for the eastern United States is June through November.

Hurricanes form over oceans. They need heat to gather their strength. Hurricanes get heat and energy through contact with ocean waters. A typical hurricane might gather enough energy to power the entire United States for six months! Hurricanes have strong winds that spiral inward and upward at speeds of 75 to 200 miles per hour. They can last up to 7 days. Hurricanes rotate in a counter-clockwise direction around the “eye.� The “eye� is the center of the storm. It is also the calmest part of a hurricane. When a hurricane reaches land, it delivers heavy rains, strong winds, and large waves. 

Hurricane Irene was a large, fast-moving storm that started all the way in the Caribbean. The Caribbean is a collection of islands south of Florida in the Atlantic Ocean. The hurricane then moved north, just missing Florida. Irene eventually arrived in North Carolina’s Outer Banks early on the morning of Saturday, August 27. Irene then traveled up the coast through Virginia, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and other northeastern states. The storm eventually ran out of steam over Maine. At times the storm was over 500 miles wide. This is almost double the width of the state of Florida! The storm traveled over 1,100 miles along the eastern United States coastline. Click on the video below to watch the path of the storm.

Along its way, Irene caused large waves, high winds, and very heavy rain. The storm knocked out power for over 4.5 million people along the East Coast. Many places also experienced major flooding. Communities along the East Coast will be recovering from this storm for a long time.

This image shows some of the destruction caused by Hurricane Irene in North Carolina.

TLX News Journal: Geography Activity
Follow the path of Hurricane Irene. Create a map showing the path Hurricane Irene took up the eastern coast of the United States.