Tropical Storm in Coastal New Hanover, North Carolina

Even though the center of Hurricane Irene passed over 100 miles east of the coast of southeastern North Carolina, its large windfield produced tropical storm force winds for nearly 24 hours as it made its landfall near Cape Lookout. The highest recorded wind gust at the Wilmington International Airport was 57 kts on the backside of the storm the morning of the August 27th. A 61 kt gust was recorded at the Johnny Mercer Pier in Wrightsville Beach. Rainfall amounts across the county ranged from six to seven inches, with moderate street flooding reported. Numerous trees and power lines were blown down, leading to 62,000 homes without power. Storm surge ranged from three to four feet above normal, with moderate beach erosion. North Lumina Avenue was covered with water and impassible due to the storm surge. The lowest pressure recorded at the Wilmington Airport was 979.5 millibars, about 28.90 inches.

Hurricane Irene tracked across the Bahamas and up the eastern seaboard, staying offshore until it made landfall at Cape Lookout the morning of August 27th as a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 85 mph. Because the center remained offshore, only tropical storm force winds were experienced along the coastal counties of southeast North Carolina.