26 | August | 2011 | ROLLING HARBOUR ABACO

HURRICANE IRENE ABACO: A DIRECT HIT ON THE DELPHI CLUB

NB FOR LATEST ABACO / IRENE INFORMATION SCROLL UP TO TOP POST OR SEE TOP OF THE ‘RECENT POSTS’ IN SIDEBAR

Peter Mantle has just sent me the latest news blog entry from the Delphi Club, Rolling Harbour (down the east coast between Cherokee and Crossing Rocks, or more specifically Bahama Palm Shores and Serenity Point). It includes an awesome image courtesy of McIDAS. The news there is, overall, quite encouraging.

Delphi Club News/Blog

DIRECT HIT BY HURRICANE IRENE

26 August 2011

The eye of Hurricane Irene passed over the Club at about 5pm GMTyesterday. Irene, a Category 3 hurricane, is one of the biggest storms to hit the Bahamas for many years. With constant wind speeds of 115mph, gusting to a reported 143mph, and with associated storm surges of up to 11 feet, Irene posed a very serious threat to property and life on low-lying Abaco.

We eagerly await news from the island. Initial reports from the Club (remarkably, there were still limited telephone links as the eye passed over) indicated that damage to the gardens and landscaping was extensive but the buildings appear to have largely held up – some external lights blown off, fences down etc but nothing too serious.

The beach steps were still standing at that point, but that would only have been half way through the ordeal and we doubt they will withstand the pummelling by what are still very angry seas. Waves were breaking on the cliff face fully 36 hours before the hurricane actually arrived.

Communications with the entire island have now been lost. We hope the “second half” was OK too and that the rest of the island has escaped so lightly. More news as it emerges….

See also the Rolling Harbour blog site https://rollingharbour.wordpress.com for fuller details [rh note – if you are reading this, you are here already…]

26 AUGUST: HURRICANE IRENE ON ABACO THE AFTERMATH

NB FOR LATEST ABACO / IRENE INFORMATION SCROLL UP TO TOP POST OR SEE TOP OF THE ‘RECENT POSTS’ IN SIDEBAR

GOOD MORNING from the safety of London UK, where it is 08.00 GMT. To get an update page posted quickly, I have copied yesterday’s post (below) which I will adapt, keeping the links and adding to them during the day. I have a journey to make, so it may be a bit sporadic. You can get to the original by clicking HURRICANE IRENE AUG 25 but most of the useful info is now here.

First, some up-to-date storm maps (courtesy of Wundermap)

Hurricane Irene at Abaco - Satellite Image as storm clears the island Updated Aug 28 03.00 LT, 08.00 GMT Click Me!

Hurricane Irene Tracking Map 26 Aug 03.00 LT, 08.00 GMT: clearing north Click me!

NEW MEDIA & NEWS LINKS 26 AUG

Local10.com an excellent resource (see yesterday’s 2 reports below). Here is Janine Stanwood in Marsh Harbour. This is a composite report from yesterday afternoon / early evening showing the effects of Irene – trashed trees, wave surges, a rearguard action at a gas station and boats in the marina affected, including a sightseeing boat that has been partially sunk in shallow water. The overall summary is that things weren’t quite as bad as they might have been… Well worth keeping an eye on this site. rh rating ***** for immediacy

HOPE TOWN INN & MARINA Facebook video of the storm yesterday

I have to leave off now, but the general view and info seems to be that things could have been worse. There are reports of wash-throughs, but daybreak will show the extent of the hurricane’s force… First brief news from Rolling Harbour (Delphi Club) is of fairly limited damage. Comms were down, but may have improved this morning. More later

USEFUL LINKS

NOAA SATELLITE & INFO SERVICE Tropical Atlantic ‘Visible Loop’ Direct links to radar / tracking info under TRACKERS & MAPS below Check out the progress of Irene using STORMPULSE Check out WATTS UP WITH THAT for additional useful info / maps

SELECTED MEDIA & NEWS REPORTS from 25.08.11 (update later)

MIDDAY VIDEO NEWS REPORT from MARSH HARBOUR on Local10.com Graphic images and some streaming on 25 Aug

SHORT IRENE VIDEO posted by the Hope Town Inn & Marina at about 13.30 today – you can just see the lighthouse through the mayhem… This has been updated overnight. I will post a direct link later

VIDEO NEWS REPORT FROM MARSH HARBOUR on Local10.com “Abaco Island, Bahamas Awaiting Hurricane Irene: Local 10’s Janine Stanwood reports from Abaco Island as Irene moves northwest”, early morning 25 Aug

CBS MIAMI report (apologies for large & inappropriate Aquafresh ad) NASSAU GUARDIAN the eye of the storm nears Abaco [11.00 local time] TIME (TECHLAND) NASA SATELLITE VIEW of ABACO & REPORT INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES (with tracking links) ASSOCIATED PRESS (article not current, check for updates)

ABACO FORUM.COM the well-known local Abaco resource. NOTE the posts go backwards so click through to the end page.

TRACKERS AND MAPS

To check out a wide variety of trackers, forecasts, radar maps and so forth, all on one convenient page (thanks, Wunderground) CLICK===>>> IRENE

To view the dedicated tracking map CLICK===>>> Hurricane Irene : Tracking Map : Weather Underground and scroll down to the large map

To view the storm-centered satellite image CLICK===>>> Hurricane Irene : Storm-Centered Satellite Image : Weather Underground

Finally, for more technical stuff and other tracking maps, check out the ever-reliable and all-knowing Abaco weather information phenomenon that is BAROMETER BOB

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26 AUG: HURRICANE IRENE CONTINUES ON ITS WAY Posted during the night UK time

Hurricane Irene 25 Aug 20.00 LT, 01.00GMT Good progress Click me!

Hurricane Irene gradually clears Abaco 20.00 LT, 01.00 GMT Click Me!

25 Aug midnight GMT – final post of the day: a Wundermap showing Irene at last starting to move northwards from Abaco. Until tomorrow (rollingharbour GMT), best of luck to all on Abaco for the rest of today…