Archive for August 29th, 2011
New system churns up as Irene heads to Canada
(CNS): While Irene became a post tropical cycloneas it headed towards Canada and Jose continued its journey across the open Atlantic, the 12th depression of the season emerged south of the Cape Verde Islands. At 6am local time TD12 was moving west at 15mph with winds of 35 mph. The National Hurricane Centre said a turn toward the west-northwest is expected during the next couple of days with little change in forward speed and the depression was expected to become a tropical storm some time later today (Monday 29 August). Although Jose caused little trouble as it brushed by Bermuda, Irene was responsible for at least 24 deaths and extensive damage along the east coast of the United States.
As the clean-up began on Monday, thousands of workers were clearing tree branches and repairing electrical lines to restore power to almost 6 million homes and businessesin 13 states as well as the District of Columbia. Estimates suggest that Hurricane Irene left a trail of destruction from North Carolina to Maine estimated in the region of around $7 billlion and officials say the recovery effort will take days, and in some cases weeks, as flooding still threatens local infrastructure.
Follow the latest tropical system on the NHC website
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