Hurricane Irene Could Hit Parsippany Saturday Night

Hurricane Irene—presently a category three hurricane bombarding the Bahamas with rain and gusty winds—could roll into northern New Jersey late this weekend, if National Weather Service projections hold.

The National Hurricane Center says Irene may hit New Jersey late Saturday or Sunday, with the storm potentially still at hurricane strength when it passes through.

As of 11 p.m. Wednesday, Irene's maximum sustained winds were at 120 mph, with hurricane force winds extending up to 40 miles from the center. The storm is expected to intensify, perhaps even achieving category four status, as it makes its way through the north-northwest and then moves north today.

No warnings were in effect for the U.S. mainland as of this morning, but the hurricane center expects the storm to pass along the Eastern seaboard this weekend. Irene could start impacting North Carolina as early as Thursday.

The National Weather Service predicts showers and thunderstorms are likely in the Parsippany area after noon Thursday and that gusty winds could begin to blow. Sunny skies are expected Friday, but the chance of rain returns Saturday, and tropical storm conditions or worse are possible Saturday night.

"Heavy rain, strong winds, and coastal flooding could begin as early as late Saturday" and continue through Sunday night, the NWS warns. "Additional impacts from this system could be significant beach erosion [and] high surf with dangerous rip currents, which could begin as early as Friday night as large swells from Irene begin to arrive."

Patch will have more information on Hurricane Irene as it becomes available.