Irene: A Great Beaufort Hurricane (1879) … or a Hurricane Earl (2010)?
In 1879, the Great Beaufort Hurricane made landfall as a Cat 3 hurricane (track above). Wind speeds of ~170 mph were estimated after anemometers cups were blown away. Its death toll was 46 people, and major damage occurred in NC. Hurricane Isabel (2003) was a Cat 2 hurricane that crossed the Outer Banks at Ocracoke, causing >$3 billion in damage and opening a new inlet. But, some hurricanes move offshore near Cape Hatteras, like Hurricane Earl last year. The fate of Irene is unclear. Get prepared NC. Learn about past NC storms.
