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Hurricane Irene gaining strength, could be cat 4 by Thursday

By Palm Beach Business.com

DELRAY BEACH — Irene won’t paying us a visit but the hurricane still could influence our weather come Thursday.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Irene was centered over Crooked Island and moving to the northwest at 12 mph. Maximum sustained winds: 120 mph, making it a category 3 hurricane.

The storm is expected to continue on its current path until tonight, when it’s expected to turn toward to the north northwest and then to the north. It’s expected to reach category 4 strength on Thursday as it continues to pound the Bahamas.

The National Hurricane Center is advising residents of eastern North Carolina and the Outer Banks to keep an eye on the storm.

While unlikely, Irene could still hit mainland Florida with tropical storm-force winds. AccuWeather is forecasting a windy, wet day for South Florida, with as much as an inch of rain falling.