Latest Hurricane Information from Haddonfield

Here's the latest information today from Linda Harrington, Haddonfield's emergency management coordinator:

Hurricane Irene has made landfall in North Carolina, and is moving toward the north-northeast at 14 miles per hour. Due to a lessening of surface winds, a loss of organization, and the storm's landfall, the National Hurricane Center has lowered the intensity of the hurricane to a Category One. However, the National Weather Service urges that we not let our guard down, as the large hurricane will still cause significant damage across the region, especially later today through midday Sunday. There continues to be a high risk of damaging winds and heavy, possibly record-setting rainfall through Sunday morning.  The NWS says the amount of rain that looks to occur with the system may end up being a topic of conversation for many years. The NWS predicts that such a huge dump of sustained rain along with high winds will most likely uproot trees from soggy ground and cause wide-scale loss of power. Also, while the tornado potential is low, it is not zero, and a tornado watch has been issued just to our south.

Residents are asked to call 856-429-3000 for non-emergency assistance. For emergency assistance, call 911. 

Forecast:

Today:  The expansive cloud shield associated with the storm is already across the area, with pockets of low clouds and some fog.  The overall conditions will go downhill through the day generally from southeast to northwest. Showers and possibly a thunderstorm will develop by late morning. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 80. East wind between 8 and 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible. 

Tonight: Tropical storm conditions expected, with hurricane conditions possible. There will be periods of heavy rain, and possibly a thunderstorm. The heavy rain axis will likely be close to the I-95 corridor. Rainfall accumulations of 6 to 10 inches are possible, with isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches. Low around 70. East wind 35 to 40 mph increasing to between 40 and 50 mph. Winds could gust as high as 65 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Sunday: Tropical storm conditions expected, with hurricane conditions possible. Periods of rain and possibly a thunderstorm before 2pm, then rain likely. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 78. Northwest wind 37 to 47 mph decreasing to between 30 and 35 mph. Winds could gust as high as 60 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 3 and 4 inches possible. 

Sunday Night:  A chance of showers before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. West wind between 7 and 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Once the storm moves off to the north and northeast later Sunday, conditions will quickly improve. 

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 82. North wind between 3 and 5 mph.

Transit

NJ Transit will suspend rail service beginning at noon today through Sunday. Bus service, including Access Link service, and the River Line light rail service will be suspended at 6:00pm tonight through Sunday. PATCO service will be suspended beginning around 11:30 pm tonight until the storm has passed and the rail system has been deemed safe."