CEMA Reminds Residents to Be Mindful of the Effects of Hurricane Irene
Hurricane Irene will pass coastal Georgia Friday moving north-northeast at about 12 miles per hour. Although the maximum sustained winds near the center of the storm may be as high as 125 mph, coastal Georgia is outside the outer bands of 34 mph tropical storm winds; however, that does not preclude occasional gusts in excess of 45 mph or higher.
Hurricane Irene will spend most of the day passing coastal Georgia 50 miles to our east. Its maximum sustained winds will range from 110 to 115 mph making it either a Category 2 (96-110) or a Category 3 (111-130) storm. It should be past Chatham County by midnight Friday moving 360 degrees towards the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
The forecast for Chatham County is a maximum of ¼ inch or rain, steady 20 mph winds with gusts to 30 mph possible. Dangerous beach conditions of rip currents and surf swells are expected throughout the weekend.
People are urged to remain out of the water through at least Saturday.
