As Hurricane Irene moved north along the Atlantic coast and interacted with land, it weakened and made its second landfall as a Tropical Storm near Little Egg Inlet along the southeast NJ Coast on August 28, 2011 around 5:35 am EDT. Tropical Storm Irene made its third landfall in New York City around 9:00 am.
Every event with a place to put it; 5 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS OKX wrote it up.
As Hurricane Irene moved north along the Atlantic coast and interacted with land, it weakened and made its second landfall as a Tropical Storm near Little Egg Inlet along the southeast NJ Coast on August 28, 2011 around 5:35 am EDT. Tropical Storm Irene made its third landfall in New York City around 9:00 am.
Three deaths occurred:
A 40 year old male drowned while walking after his car became stranded in flood waters in Kearny (Hudson County).
A 39 year old male in Wanaque, Passaic County, NJ drowned while walking in the |woods when a sinkhole opened up and he was swept away into a nearby stream.
A 60 year old male in North Bergen, Hudson County, NJ died from a fall while cleaning out the gutters of his house.
Irene brought tropical storm force winds, destructive storm surge, and record breaking freshwater inland flooding across northeast NJ that resulted in 3 deaths, thousands of mandatory and voluntary evacuations along the coast and rivers from surge and freshwater flooding, and widespread power outages that lasted for up to 2 weeks in areas that were subsequently impacted by the remnant moisture from Tropical Storm Lee in September.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS New York, NY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 28, 12:59 PM EST, 47 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY 159 PM EDT SUN AUG 28 2011 .SYNOPSIS... HURRICANE IRENE DEPARTS TO THE NORTH TONIGHT. HIGH PRESSURE THEN BUILDS INTO THE REGION THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT...THEN RETREATS TO THE NORTHEAST TO CLOSE THE WORK WEEK. A COLD FRONT THEN WILL EFFECT THE AREA SATURDAY. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/... IRENE MOVING WELL TO THE NORTH OF NYC VICINITY. RAIN IS COMING TO AN END. HOWEVER...GUSTY WINDS CONTINUE...AS DOES RESIDUAL FLOODING. COASTAL FLOODING SHOULD SLOWLY IMPROVE. PLEASE REFER TO NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER FORECASTS FOR IRENE FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS. && .SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH 6 PM MONDAY/... CONDITIONS IMPROVE RAPIDLY THIS EVENING AS IRENE PULLS AWAY TO THE NORTHEAST...WITH WINDS BEING THE LAST THING TO FALL OFF. SHOULD EXPERIENCE MAINLY CLEAR SKY CONDITIONS AND WINDS 10 KT OR LESS BY LATE TONIGHT. MAV AND MET GUIDANCE WERE FAIRLY SIMILAR SO USED A BLEND FOR LOWS...WITH VALUES AROUND 5 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL. SHORTWAVE CURRENTLY OVER MANITOBA WILL AMPLIFY SLIGHTLY AS IT MOVES INTO THE REGION MONDAY. HOWEVER...WITH LIMITED MOISTURE TO WORK WITH...AND STRONG SUBSIDENCE IN THE WAKE OF IRENE...HAVE GONE WITH A DRY FORECAST...WITH MINIMAL CLOUD COVER...CONSISTENT WITH GUIDANCE. COULD SEE SOME MID TO HIGH CLOUDS LATE DUE TO FORCING FROM APPROACHING 850 HPA COLD FRONT IN ADDITION TO SHORTWAVE TROUGH. FOR HIGHS MONDAY BLENDED 3/4 MAV/MET BLEND WITH 1/4 MIX DOWN FROM 825 HPA AS SUGGESTED BY BUFKIT SOUNDINGS...WITH HIGHS A COUPLE OF DEGREES BELOW NORMAL EXPECTED. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... AFOREMENTIONED 500-700 TROUGH CROSSES THE AREA MONDAY NIGHT...AND EXITS TO THE EAST TUESDAY. FOR NOW WENT WITH A DRY FORECAST...THOUGH NEW ECMWF DOES SUGGEST POTENTIAL FOR SOME LIGHT RAINFALL ACROSS FAR SE ZONES IN RESPONSE TO A WAVE OF LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPING ALONG A FRONTAL BOUNDARY STALLED TO OUR SE IN RESPONSE TO THE PASSING SHORTWAVE. FOR NOW ECMWF APPEARS TO BE OUTLIER IN HOW CLOSE TO THE REGION IT DEVELOPS THE LOW. USED A BLEND OF MAV/MET GUIDANCE FOR LOWS MONDAY NIGHT (NEAR NORMAL NYC METRO TO ABOUT 5 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL OUTSIDE OF IT)...THEN A BLEND OF 3/4 MAV/MET GUIDANCE WITH 1/4 MIXING DOWN FROM 850 HPA FOR HIGHS TUESDAY WITH HIGHS A FEW DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL EXPECTED. A SHORTWAVE RIDGE CROSSES THE REGION TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...KEEPING THINGS DRY WITH NEAR NORMAL LOWS AND SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL HIGHS. BOTH THE ECMWF AND GFS DEVELOP A 500 HPA CLOSED LOW OVER THE NE US BY THURSDAY NIGHT...THEN HAVE IT SLOWLY DRIFT TO OUR EAST THROUGH FRIDAY...BUT DIFFER SLIGHTLY IN PLACEMENT. WENT WITH A BLEND FOR NOW. WITH RELATIVELY DRY LOW LEVELS DUE TO LOW LEVEL RIDGING...ONLY WENT WITH SLIGHT CHANCE POPS THURSDAY/THURSDAY NIGHT...AND DRY ON FRIDAY FOR NOW (UPPER LOW TO EAST)...BUT HAVE LOW CONFIDENCE IN THIS. FOR NOW PLAYING AS PARTLY CLOUDY...BUT WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF CLOUD COVER ULTIMATELY ENDS UP BEING MORE THAN THAT. WENT WITH TEMPERATURES NEAR TO SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL IN THIS TIME FRAME. ECMWF AND GFS DIFFER QUITE A BIT ON TIMING OF COLD FRONT FOR THE UPCOMING WEEKEND...SO KEPT POPS ON SATURDAY AT SLIGHT CHANCE FOR NOW...GIVING SOME DEFERENCE TO FASTER ECMWF...BUT SOMEWHAT SKEPTICAL DUE TO RIDGING FORECAST TO BUILD IN FROM 850-500 HPA SATURDAY IN BOTH MODELS. HAVE HIGHS ABOVE NORMAL SATURDAY DUE TO TYPICAL WARM PUSH AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT. && .AVIATION /18Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... IRENE WILL TRACK THROUGH THE REGION TODAY. MUCH OF THE PRECIPITATION HAS MOVED NORTH OF THE TERMINALS. JUST SOME LEFT OVER SHOWERS TO THE WEST REMAIN WHICH COULD HAVE SOME IMPACT TO THE TERMINALS. IF THIS RAIN DOES MOVE ACROSS THE AREA...EXPECT REDUCED VISIBILITY. OTHERWISE...EXPECT STRONG GUSTY WINDS THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. WINDS SHOULD LOSE THEIR GUSTS OVERNIGHT. GUSTS WILL GENERALLY REMAIN BETWEEN 30-40 KT...WITH SOME SPOTS LOCALLY HIGHER. VFR EXPECTED ON MONDAY. OUTLOOK FOR 18Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY... MON-FRI...VFR DUE TO BROAD AREA OF HIGH PRES OVER THE REGION. && .MARINE... IMPROVING YET STILL DANGEROUS CONDITIONS CONTINUE OVER THE WATERS THIS AFTERNOON...WITH TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS CONTINUING. VERY ROUGH SEAS IN THE 20 TO 30 FT RANGE ON THE OCEAN WILL SUBSIDE SLOWLY. WINDS AND SEAS WILL BE SLOW TO DIMINISH TONIGHT OVER ESPECIALLY EASTERN WATERS...DUE TO THE LARGE WIND FIELD ASSOCIATED WITH IRENE. WILL NEED TO PUT UP AT LEAST AN SCA AND POSSIBLY A GALE WARNING ONCE TROPICAL HEADLINES ARE LOWERED AT SOME POINT TONIGHT AS IRENE EXITS. HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN MONDAY-THURSDAY WITH WINDS ONLY AT MOST 15 KT MONDAY AND AT MOST 10 KT MONDAY NIGHT-THURSDAY. SWELLS FROM IRENE WILL BE SLOW TO SUBSIDE OVER THE COASTAL OCEAN WATERS...WITH SEAS OF AT LEAST 5 FT POTENTIALLY LINGERING INTO TUESDAY. SEAS SHOULD FALL BELOW SCA LEVELS ON ALL COASTAL OCEAN ZONES BY TUESDAY NIGHT. && .HYDROLOGY... RESIDUAL FLOODING CONTINUES. HOWEVER...NO ADDITIONAL SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL IS EXPECTED. PLEASE REFER TO LOCAL FLOOD WARNINGS FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS. DRY WEATHER IS EXPECTED FROM LATE THIS EVENING INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK. && .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... TIDAL DEPARTURES SHOULD IMPROVE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. ADDITIONAL COASTAL FLOODING IS NOT ANTICIPATED DURING THE NEXT NEXT HIGH TIDE. HOWEVER...RESIDUAL FLOODING WILL CONTINUE. && .OKX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CT...TROPICAL STORM WARNING FOR CTZ005>012. NY...TROPICAL STORM WARNING FOR NYZ067>075-078>081-176>179. NJ...TROPICAL STORM WARNING FOR NJZ002-004-006-103>108. MARINE...TROPICAL STORM WARNING FOR ANZ330-335-338-340-345-350-353-355. && SYNOPSIS...MALOIT/PW NEAR TERM... SHORT TERM...MALOIT LONG TERM...MALOIT AVIATION...BC MARINE...MALOIT/NV HYDROLOGY...MALOIT/NV TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY 112 PM EDT SUN AUG 28 2011 CTZ005>012-NJZ004-006-103>108-NYZ068>075-078>081-176>179-291000- NORTHERN FAIRFIELD-NORTHERN NEW HAVEN-NORTHERN MIDDLESEX- NORTHERN NEW LONDON-SOUTHERN FAIRFIELD-SOUTHERN NEW HAVEN- SOUTHERN MIDDLESEX-SOUTHERN NEW LONDON-EASTERN PASSAIC-HUDSON- WESTERN BERGEN-EASTERN BERGEN-WESTERN ESSEX-EASTERN ESSEX- WESTERN UNION-EASTERN UNION-PUTNAM-ROCKLAND-NORTHERN WESTCHESTER- SOUTHERN WESTCHESTER-NEW YORK (MANHATTAN)-BRONX- RICHMOND (STATEN ISLAND)-KINGS (BROOKLYN)-NORTHWESTERN SUFFOLK- NORTHEASTERN SUFFOLK-SOUTHWESTERN SUFFOLK-SOUTHEASTERN SUFFOLK- NORTHERN QUEENS-NORTHERN NASSAU-SOUTHERN QUEENS-SOUTHERN NASSAU- 112 PM EDT SUN AUG 28 2011 ...TROPICAL STORM WARNING IN EFFECT... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT...NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY AND SOUTHEAST NEW YORK. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. TROPICAL STORM WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. TROPICAL STORM WARNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. && THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK PROVIDES A SUMMARY OF POTENTIAL WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER EVENTS THAT MAY REACH NWS WARNING CRITERIA. MOST LONG FUSED NWS WATCHES...WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES IN EFFECT ARE HIGHLIGHTED. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST NWS FORECASTS FOR WEATHER NOT MEETING NWS WARNING CRITERIA. NJZ002-NYZ067-291000- WESTERN PASSAIC-ORANGE- 112 PM EDT SUN AUG 28 2011 ...TROPICAL STORM WARNING IN EFFECT... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY AND SOUTHEAST NEW YORK. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. TROPICAL STORM WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. TROPICAL STORM WARNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. && THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK PROVIDES A SUMMARY OF POTENTIAL WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER EVENTS THAT MAY REACH NWS WARNING CRITERIA. MOST LONG FUSED NWS WATCHES...WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES IN EFFECT ARE HIGHLIGHTED. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST NWS FORECASTS FOR WEATHER NOT MEETING NWS WARNING CRITERIA. ANZ330-335-338-340-345-350-353-355-291000- LONG ISLAND SOUND EAST OF NEW HAVEN CT/PORT JEFFERSON NY- LONG ISLAND SOUND WEST OF NEW HAVEN CT/PORT JEFFERSON NY- NEW YORK HARBOR-PECONIC AND GARDINERS BAYS- SOUTH SHORE BAYS FROM JONES INLET THROUGH SHINNECOCK BAY- MORICHES INLET NY TO MONTAUK POINT NY OUT 20 NM- FIRE ISLAND INLET NY TO MORICHES INLET NY OUT 20 NM- SANDY HOOK NJ TO FIRE ISLAND INLET NY OUT 20 NM- 112 PM EDT SUN AUG 28 2011 ...TROPICAL STORM WARNING IN EFFECT... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. TROPICAL STORM WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. TROPICAL STORM WARNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. && THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK PROVIDES A SUMMARY OF POTENTIAL WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER EVENTS THAT MAY REACH NWS WARNING CRITERIA. MOST LONG FUSED NWS WATCHES...WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES IN EFFECT ARE HIGHLIGHTED. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST NWS FORECASTS FOR WEATHER NOT MEETING NWS WARNING CRITERIA.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
122 PM EDT SUN AUG 28 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0915 AM NON-TSTM WND DMG WOODBRIDGE 41.35N 73.01W
08/28/2011 NEW HAVEN CT TRAINED SPOTTER
NUMEROUS TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN.
&&
JPPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
126 PM EDT SUN AUG 28 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0800 AM STORM SURGE LONG BEACH 40.59N 73.67W
08/28/2011 NASSAU NY NWS EMPLOYEE
STORM SURGE ESTIMATED TO EASILY BE 7FT MSL HERE AND
ALSO AT LIDO BEACH. FOR LONG BEACH...CARS PARKED NEAR
THE BOARDWALK HAD WATER OVER THEIR ROOFS.
&&
JMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
130 PM EDT SUN AUG 28 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1105 AM FLOOD SEYMOUR 41.40N 73.06W
08/28/2011 NEW HAVEN CT TRAINED SPOTTER
NAUGATUCK RIVER HAS BREACHED THE ROUTE 67 BRIDGE.
CENTER STREET IS FLOODED. EVACUATIONS OF RESIDENTS ALONG
DERBY AVENUE.
&&
JPPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
159 PM EDT SUN AUG 28 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1050 AM COASTAL FLOOD WANTAGH 40.67N 73.51W
08/28/2011 NASSAU NY TRAINED SPOTTER
ROADS CLOSED FROM MANDALAY SCHOOL TO SEAFORD HARBOR.
&&
JPPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
201 PM EDT SUN AUG 28 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1233 PM FLOOD GOSHEN 41.40N 74.33W
08/28/2011 ORANGE NY TRAINED SPOTTER
WATER RESCUES
&&
JPPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
226 PM EDT SUN AUG 28 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0930 AM NON-TSTM WND DMG BETHEL 41.37N 73.41W
08/28/2011 FAIRFIELD CT PUBLIC
LARGE LIMBS DOWN.
&&
JPThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
5 tropical storm. Local standard time, as filed.
As Irene moved north of the area, west winds were sustained at 39 knots with a peak gust to 53 knots measured by the ASOS at Newark Liberty Airport.
The peak wind gust measured by the ASOS at Essex County Airport in Caldwell was west at 39 knots.
As Irene moved north of the area, west winds were sustained at 39 knots with a peak gust to 53 knots measured by the ASOS at Newark Liberty Airport.
The peak wind gust measured by the ASOS at Essex County Airport in Caldwell was west at 39 knots.
As Irene moved north of the area, west winds were sustained at 39 knots with a peak gust to 53 knots measured by the ASOS at Newark Liberty Airport.
As Irene moved north of the area, west winds were sustained at 39 knots with a peak gust to 53 knots measured by the ASOS at Newark Liberty Airport.
The peak wind gust measured by ASOS at Teterboro Airport was west at 42 knots.
As Irene moved north of the area, west winds were sustained at 39 knots with a peak gust to 53 knots measured by the ASOS at Newark Liberty Airport.
The peak wind gust measured by ASOS at Teterboro Airport was west at 42 knots.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Jersey in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in New Jersey, August 2011The 2011 hurricane season
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 349904, 349907, 349903, 349905, 349906.