Hurricane Irene's Projected Path Moves Closer to New York City
A 5am EDT update from the NWS moves Hurricane Irene's track over the outer banks of North Carolina and almost directly over New York City late Sunday. The track moved slightly westward from forecasts late yesterday.
Hurricane Irene is now on a path that could take it dangerously close to, if not over, the mid-Atlantic coastline and New York City on Sunday, posing a serious danger to millions of people. The AccuWeather.com Hurricane Center is confident that Irene will strike the Outer Banks of North Carolina Saturday evening as a strong Category 3 or Category 4 hurricane. Beyond that point, latest indications put Irene on a path extremely close to or over the mid-Atlantic coast and New York City before plowing into western New England....
...On its current forecast path, Irene would spread destructive hurricane-force winds (gusts between 80 to 100 mph) across the Delmarva coast, eastern New Jersey, New York City, western Long Island and southwestern New England. A track directly over Atlantic City, N.J., and New York City would bring these intense winds westward to Philadelphia. The strongest and most sustained hurricane-force winds will be measured in the immediate vicinity of Irene's center. Widespread tree damage, major power outages and structural damage to buildings and homes would ensue. Glass windows could shatter along the sides of New York City skyscrapers.
A path closer to NYC would also be more disastrous for homes along the coast of Long Island as a disastrous storm surge is likelier on the north and east sides of the storm's eye.
Take precautions.
Is it only important if it happens in NYC?
Posted by: Frank O'File | Aug 25, 2011 8:47:06 AM
Of course, anywhere the hurricane hits is important, but I think the point is, there is a huge population there. Not like on the Outer Banks, where small islands have 6,000 residents. We're talking about MILLIONS of people affected.
Posted by: rb | Aug 25, 2011 9:12:32 AM
And, of course, only a few hundred people live in Washington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia, which will be hit harder than NYC, the center of the universe.
Posted by: bcarter3 | Aug 25, 2011 9:26:27 AM
Looks like dorothy's leg. Isn't the towleroad guy from NYC? Maybe that's why he's mentioning it's effect on NYC. Climb off the ledge drama queens.
Posted by: SPOT | Aug 25, 2011 9:44:47 AM
Frank I had the same thought. If this was a NYC centric blog I'd understand, but it seems to try to be a national blog. Maybe he could have said something like "most of the east coast"
Posted by: Billy | Aug 25, 2011 10:05:07 AM
Just nyc?
Posted by: r | Aug 25, 2011 10:14:14 AM
Come on. NYC is the central of the gay universe. The rest of us gays are hicks.
Posted by: Brian | Aug 25, 2011 10:22:14 AM
Frank etc
Andy lives in NY I think so one can understand his NY centric view
Add in that NY is not built for hurricanes and is one of the most populated cities in the US
Anyone who doesn't like it can start their own blog
Posted by: say what | Aug 25, 2011 10:36:39 AM
Say: If Andy doesn't want comments on his material, then he can always shut off that option. As it stands, I think it's fair for a reader to point out that his headline is, indeed, NYC-centric, and if he wants to avoid insults to the rest of his readership who are also threatened, he might want to raise his awareness a little.
Posted by: Frank O'File | Aug 25, 2011 11:20:16 AM
If we stop having gay sex for a few days, maybe the hurricane will move out to sea.
Posted by: Jack M | Aug 25, 2011 11:53:58 AM
The Christian extremists must be literally salivating and giddy with excitement that a hurricane of any magnitude is aimed right at NYC so close to the passage of marriage equality in the state. I am absolutely positive that they are praying to their sky friend for as much damage and loss of life as possible so that they can definitively make their point. It will be a matter of minutes before someone proclaims that God's will is done. It is sickening to think that some people actually want this.
PS: who cares if the post is NYC-centric? It's Andy's blog and he can write what he wants. Anyone who has read this blog for more than a few years knows it is NY centric, but why is that a big deal? Lots of good stuff comes out of NY - marriage equality for one.
Posted by: Chadd | Aug 25, 2011 11:55:17 AM
If you live in America, NYC is a "big deal". Look around, name some other cities in America that are as important as NYC, It doesn't take away from the other cities, just puts them in perspective.
Posted by: Fenrox | Aug 25, 2011 12:26:57 PM
NYC only happens to be the finance and media center of the U.S. as well as by far the largest and most densely populated city in the country. Not to mention that it may very well be the gayest city on the planet in terms of total numbers.
Don't live there anymore and often cringe when New Yorkers get ridiculously NY-centric but nothing about this post should inspire these stupid comments. I don't think this was intended to be a comprehensive overview of Hurricane Irene's trajectory and a primary source of information for all U.S. residents potentially affected by it.
Posted by: Vlad | Aug 25, 2011 12:53:53 PM
Bitter queens: Andy's post is transcribed from the linked Accuweather article. Since you have so much time to complain, why don't you also write a nasty email to accuweather for discriminating against you. PS Please get over yourselves.
Posted by: A | Aug 25, 2011 1:21:23 PM
Th headline was far too general. It should have read "Hurricane Irene's Projected Path Moves Closer to East 73rd Street".
Posted by: bcarter3 | Aug 25, 2011 1:27:22 PM
Seriously! The headline should have also mentioned Irene's impact on happy hour in Hell's kitchen..
Posted by: jotto | Aug 25, 2011 2:22:49 PM
Get out of my way......Here I Come. :o)
Posted by: irene | Aug 25, 2011 3:51:48 PM
New York IS by far the most important city in the country though (well, Washington too I guess).
Let's see, a hurricane affecting New York will affect the stock market in a big way, the celebrities will have to deal with waters flooding their townhomes and lobbies of their building, think of all the Prada and Gucci clothes that will be flooded, all the Hermes Birkin bags foating away because Lower Manhattan is very vulernable to floods (there is a Hermes boutique on Wall Street, in this zone), this will also affect the taping of TV shows, all the fun bars and nightlife will be closed, all the Rolls-Royces and Mercedes will be floating around Midtown Manhattan and will be salvaged and the chauffeurs of the cars might die.
Also many celebrities might die in huge floods.
So yes, it's a VERY BIG DEAL.
Posted by: Marco | Aug 25, 2011 4:15:09 PM
You know what i live in the OBX and thats awful to hear you talking about its not as important..let me tell you what i would rather nyc have any of the death tolls than obx. Because chances are the hurricain is only gonna wipe out the ones who do wrong anyways. lol. think of it like an apoplclyptic sign and its hitting NY harder cause you guys are the worst people in the USA. :) LOL besides its hitting us..which means doofus we are slowing it down so when it gets to nyc it will prollt be nothing more than a tropical storm. :)
Posted by: OBX | Aug 26, 2011 11:45:57 AM