Irene May Bring Strong Winds to Columbia Area

Downgraded to a Category 1 storm Tuesday afternoon, Hurricane Irene is expected to pick up speed and strength 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 take a turn toward the north, according to the National Hurricane Center. Forecasters warn that Irene could grow into a major hurricane on Wednesday.

The storm's projected path was adjusted steadily to the east throughout the day Tuesday. Forecasters no longer expect the center of the storm to make landfall in Florida.

On Tuesday night, the National Hurricane Center reported that tropical-storm-force winds extended up to 205 miles from the center of the storm.

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 thunderstorms on Saturday night and Sunday, with wind picking up noticeably during the day Saturday and gusts continuing into Sunday.