Hurricane Irene Gains Strength, Hits Bahamas

Hurricane Irene regained strength Wednesday morning as it bore down on the Bahamas and was expected to grow even fiercer as the day continued, forecasters said.

After being temporarily downgraded to a 90-mph, Category 1 hurricane late Tuesday, Irene’s top winds were near 110 mph by Wednesday morning, making it a Category 2 storm.

“Irene continues to strengthen as it pounds the southeastern Bahamas,” the National Hurricane Center said in a public advisory released at 5 a.m. Wednesday. “Irene will likely become a major hurricane later today.”

The storm’s core was expected to move across the southeastern and central Bahamas Wednesday, reaching the northwestern part of the island chain by Thursday.

For Bahamians, the prospects of 125 mph winds and 10 inches of rain weren’t the only worries. The surrounding sea, swept inland by a storm surge that could hit 11 feet, might be the deadliest potential threat.

It is still not known where or when Irene will hit on the U.S. mainland.