Ocean City Remains Under A Hurricane Warning & Tornado Watch

Ocean City continues to monitor Hurricane Irene after it made landfall earlier this morning near Cape Hatteras, NC. Ocean City remains under a hurricane warning and a tornado watch. The tornado watch is in effect until 7 p.m. Sunday.

Easterly gale force winds should start affecting the area this morning at 11 a.m. with storm force winds arriving around 5 p.m. and northeasterly hurricane force winds arriving near 9 p.m. The highest wind speeds from Hurricane Irene should occur near 1 a.m. Sunday, when top sustained winds, from the north, could reach 79 mph with gusts near 99 mph.

When sustained winds become 50 mph for 10 minutes or longer, emergency response will cease until conditions are deemed safe.

Hurricane Irene is currently projected to pass by Ocean City at approximately 2 to 3 a.m. Sunday. Winds should decrease below hurricane force shortly thereafter.

Sustained winds will fall below gale force after 9 a.m. Sunday and generally be from the north during this period of decreasing winds. Expect gusts above gale force level for several more hours thereafter.

The total rainfall for the Ocean City area over the next three days is currently forecast to be 8 to 12 inches. This can vary significantly as tropical storm and hurricane rainfall is very difficult to predict.

Emergency management officials report the evacuation of Ocean City on Friday went smoothly, with very few citizens electing to ignore warnings and remain in town.

The town’s emergency operations center is manned and will continue to monitor Hurricane Irene.

All incoming traffic to Ocean City, Maryland, continues to be limited to emergency personnel. No other vehicles will be permitted entry to the island, except by approved authority (Mayor, City Manager and Emergency Services Director).

Updated information will be posted on the Town’s website, www.oceancitymd.gov, the Emergency Services recorded information line at 410-723-6666, facebook.com/oceancity and on Twitter @ townofoceancity. You can receive our twitter messages via text on your smartphone! Text follow TownofOceanCity to 40404 in the United States.