Accompanied by massive waves and strong winds, Hurricane Irene passes along the eastern coast of the United States.

Arab Weather - Meteorologists announced that Hurricane Irene has weakened to a Category 3 storm as it approaches the Bahamas, having previously reached Category 5 with winds reaching 260 km/h. Despite its weakening intensity, the hurricane is expanding in size, with winds reaching 330 km from its center, increasing the risk of flooding and landslides in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Irene, the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, has rapidly intensified and then gradually slowed as it drifted northward away from the US mainland. The hurricane is currently passing north of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, bringing heavy rains and strong winds, amid warnings of strong waves and rip currents along the US East Coast, particularly in Florida.

Bermuda and the Bahamas will also be affected by heavy rains and strong waves as the hurricane passes over the coming hours, while the US Coast Guard has imposed restrictions on ship movements in the ports of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

The expected path of the hurricane in the coming days

Meteorologists at the Arab Weather Center said that computer maps simulating the hurricane's movement over the coming days indicate it will continue moving northeast, passing along the eastern coast of the United States, including Florida.

Hurricanes are complex weather patterns. They are influenced by multiple factors, including interactions between winds, temperatures, and humidity, making their paths and intensity difficult to predict. Furthermore, the atmosphere is not static; it is a complex system that is constantly changing due to these interactions, which increases the challenges of long-term weather forecasting.

Arab Weather experts are raising several questions about the classification of the tropical system and its developments at the end of the week. It is impossible to give a definitive forecast of its intensity, as tropical systems are extremely complex weather conditions that are very moody in their development and decline. It is possible that the tropical system could develop again based on what is happening on the ground, and computer simulations may suffer from confusion due to the specificity of this type of system. Therefore, it is important to follow developments as they occur during the day and the coming days.

What is the role of climate change in increasing the intensity of tropical cyclones globally?

Hurricane Irene is one of only 43 Category 5 hurricanes recorded in the Atlantic and the 11th Category 5 since 2016, underscoring the increasing intensity of storms. It is unusual for a Category 5 hurricane to emerge so early in the season. Although mid-August marks the peak of hurricane activity, the strongest storms typically occur later.

Meteorologists at the Arab Weather Regional Center said that climate change is leading to an increase in the intensity of tropical cyclones through rising ocean temperatures, as hurricanes derive their energy from the heat of the water. As temperatures rise due to global warming, hurricanes gain more energy, leading to stronger and more destructive hurricanes. Additionally, rising temperatures increase the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere, which increases the rate of rainfall associated with hurricanes and, consequently, the risk of flooding.

Climate change also contributes to the acceleration of hurricane intensification, as they become more powerful and more rapid, making them more difficult to predict and adequately prepare for. This rapid intensification increases the risks to affected areas. Sea level rise due to melting polar ice contributes to increased flooding caused by hurricanes, even those that are not exceptionally strong.

Furthermore, studies have shown that powerful hurricanes (categories 3, 4, and 5) are becoming more frequent due to climate change. These hurricanes cause widespread destruction and significant damage, especially in coastal areas, making their impact even more catastrophic due to factors associated with global warming.

And God knows best.