Keep An Eye On Irene, NWS Says

Hurricane Irene, now officially a Category 3 storm, is hitting the Bahamas hard, the National Weather Service says.

It's still too early to tell exactly how the Connecticut shoreline will be affected, but the NWS said in the 5 p.m. Irene update that "interests from the Carolinas northward through New England should monitor the progress of Irene."

As of 5 p.m., the center of Hurricane Irene was located near latitude 23.1 North and longitude 74.7 west. For more information on how to track a hurricane,

"Irene is moving toward the northwest near 12 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue through tonight," the National Weather Service said. "A turn toward the north-northwest and then north are expected Thursday and Thursday night."

Maximum sustained winds are near 120 mph, with higher gusts, the NWS says. "Some additional strengthening is forecast during the next day or so." Irene is currently a Category 3 on teh Saffir-Simpson Scale and "could become a Category Four hurricane by Thursday."

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric administration predicts coastal New England will experience some very heavy rainfall as a result of the tropical storm system headed this way.

"As Hurricane Irene intensifies and moves up the U.S. coastline, rainfall amounts will vary from a few inches to almost 20" in some places," NOAA said. "The heaviest rains are predicted to remain offshore, though current NOAA GFS weather models, shown here, indicate that the Outer Banks and coastal New England may bear the brunt of Irene’s rains in the U.S."

Madison is currently experiencing another glorious weather day, but that could change as the week goes on. Here is the extended forecast from the NWS:

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind between 8 and 14 mph.

Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. South wind between 11 and 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Thursday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 2am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Cloudy, with a low around 68. Southwest wind between 5 and 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 7am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. North wind between 5 and 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Light south wind. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 7am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 68. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Sunday: Tropical storm conditions possible. Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 73. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Sunday Night: Tropical storm conditions possible. Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 61.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 62.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.