Irene May Bring Strong Winds to Tampa Bay Area

The hurricane is no longer expected to make landfall in Florida, but beach residents could still feel its effects starting Thursday.

Upgraded to a Category 3 storm overnight, Hurricane Irene is expected to continue picking up speed and strength today as it turns toward the East Coast, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Irene lumbered into the Bahamas at 9 mph Tuesday night and is expected to clear the islands Thursday before taking a turn toward the north, according to the National Hurricane Center. Forecasters warn that Irene could grow into a Category 4 hurricane today or Thursday.

The storm's projected path has been adjusted steadily to the east throughout the past 24 hours. Forecasters no longer expect the center of the storm to make landfall in Florida at all.

However, even without making landfall in Florida, Irene could bring rain and strong wind to the Tampa Bay area. The National Hurricane Center reports that tropical-storm-force winds extend up to 205 miles from the center of the storm. For some perspective on the storm's reach, consider that Jacksonville is about 200 miles away from Tampa. 

Irene is also packing a storm surge of up to 11 feet, a figure that is expected to grow by the time the storm makes landfall in the United States on Saturday. Current forecast models from the National Hurricane Center suggest it may run aground in the Carolinas.

Local seven-day forecasts from the National Weather Service are calling for scattered thunderstorms on Thursday and Friday, with wind picking up noticeably during the day Thursday and gusts continuing into Saturday.