Hurricane Irene downgraded to tropical storm
Posted August 28, 2011 11:45 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Hurricane Irene has been downgraded to a tropical storm and will continue to weaken as it progresses north up the Atlantic Coast, experts say.
But the head of FEMA, America’s emergency response agency, says people shouldn’t underestimate its dangers.
“We still will have trees coming down, heavy rain, strong winds,” said FEMA’s Craig Fugate. “It’s critical to stay off the roads.”
At least 14 people have died as a result of the storm and power outages have affected almost three million homes.
There has been extensive flooding in Philadelphia, New Jersey, and lower Manhattan, where the East and Hudson Rivers both topped their banks.
Approximately 9,000 flights have been cancelled in the U.S.
In Toronto, more than 100 flights have been cancelled at Pearson Airport.
Passengers are advised to check on the status of their flights before heading to the airport.
Check Porter Airlines’ flight status here. Check status of flights out of Pearson International Airport here.
The Canadian Hurricane Centre in Halifax says by the time Irene moves through Maine and into Canada early Monday, it will likely be downgraded again to a post-tropical storm.
That doesn’t mean it won’t pack a wallop. Wind warnings are currently in effect for mainland Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and most of New Brunswick, with gusts as high as 110 kilometres an hour possible.
Quebec is expected to get significant rainfall and about 180,000 homes are without power in the province.
“The heaviest rainfall is occurring in the Quebec region — the Eastern Townships — and with the water levels already particularly high there, that (flooding) is going to be the concern,” said Chris Fogarty, director of the Canadian Hurricane Centre.
“(This storm) is broadly reaching and that’s why we want to alert people that this is not like hurricanes where all the high wind is concentrated to the eye. All the windy conditions are well away from it. We’re talking several hundred kilometres away from the centre of the storm.”
With files from The Canadian Press
