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It's Official: Irene First Hurricane of Season

Expected to affect Florida, could hit Georgia, Carolinas

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 22, 2011 5:45 AM CDT

(Newser) – The first hurricane of the Atlantic season has officially developed. Irene is currently moving over Puerto Rico; it could eventually rattle Florida and skim Georgia and the Carolinas later this week. First, though, it’s headed toward Hispaniola, the island shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The storm has maximum sustained wins of 75mph and is pushing west-northwest at 12mph, the AP reports.

In this NOAA satellite image taken Monday, Aug. 22, 2011 at 1:45 a.m. EDT, Tropical Storm Irene is visible at about 35 miles southeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico. (AP PHOTO/WEATHER UNDERGROUND)

A surfer?walks into the ocean as?tropical storm?Irene approaches to the island in Luquillo, Puerto Rico, Sunday, Aug. 21, 2011. (AP Photo/Ricardo Arduengo)

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It's Official: Irene First Hurricane of Season

Expected to affect Florida, could hit Georgia, Carolinas

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More Newser Stories

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Year's first storm forms before start of hurricane season

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Tornadoes, rain, hail pelt the region

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Northeast, Midwest would lose seats if today's census was used

Suspect Leads Cops to Missing Hiker's Body

Alleged kidnapper eyed in three other hiker deaths

Heat Wave Bakes Southeast

Region reaches for the iced tea as temps shatter records

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