Remembering Tropical Storm Irene in New England
On August 28, 2011 Tropical Storm Irene made landfall in New England, leading to coastal storm surge, significant riverine flooding, sediment transport to Long Island Sound, and major infrastructure damage and destruction. Ten years later, the USGS New England Water Science Center looks back at Irene, the data collected by our Center during the event, the response by our employees before, during and after the event, and how the event changed the way we do business.
On August 28, 2011 Tropical Storm Irene reached the coast of New England and traversed through western Connecticut and Massachusetts and then along the New Hampshire/Vermont border and eventually exited New England through northern Maine. Irene was downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm prior to reaching New England as winds subsided to approximately 55 mph, and again downgraded to an extratropical storm as winds dropped to near 45 mph. Irene caused coastal damage in western Connecticut due to the storm surge associated with the high winds and significant damage to roadways, bridges, and other infrastructure due to the tremendous amounts of rainfall during the storm. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) New England Water Science Center responded to the storm surge and severe flooding caused by Irene before, during, and after the storm by monitoring tidal storm surge and collecting measurements of river stage and discharge. In some cases, there was record-breaking river stage elevations and associated discharge, especially in Vermont and western New Hampshire.
Leading up to the 10-year anniversary of Tropical Storm Irene the New England Water Science Center posted numerous photographs and other content to highlight the historical significance of the storm and the response by the USGS New England Water Science Center. Additionally, we posted content on our Facebook page using the hashtag #21DaysofIrene.
We focus on the preparation for the storm and some of the coastal and riverine flooding caused by the storm. Preparation was primarily deploying storm surge sensors along New England’s coastline and getting teams ready to go into the field to get discharge measurements of flooding rivers throughout the most impacted areas of New England.
We also feature continued USGS New England Water Science Center response during and after the storm, as well as lessons learned and how USGS has changed their way of responding to this type of storm event.
Below are other science projects associated with this information.
Below are multimedia items associated with this information.
Below are publications associated with this information.
The effects of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee on the bed sediment geochemistry of U.S. Atlantic coastal rivers
High-water marks from flooding in Lake Champlain from April through June 2011 and Tropical Storm Irene in August 2011 in Vermont
Hurricane Irene and associated floods of August 27-30, 2011, in New Jersey
Sediment transport due to extreme events: The Hudson River estuary after tropical storms Irene and Lee
Monitoring inland storm tide and flooding from Hurricane Irene along the Atlantic Coast of the United States, August 2011
Ecosystem impacts of three sequential hurricanes (Dennis, Floyd, and Irene) on the United States' largest lagoonal estuary, Pamlico Sound, NC
Two months of flooding in eastern North Carolina, September-October 1999: Hydrologic, water-quality, and geologic effects of hurricanes Dennis, Floyd, and Irene
On August 28, 2011 Tropical Storm Irene made landfall in New England, leading to coastal storm surge, significant riverine flooding, sediment transport to Long Island Sound, and major infrastructure damage and destruction. Ten years later, the USGS New England Water Science Center looks back at Irene, the data collected by our Center during the event, the response by our employees before, during and after the event, and how the event changed the way we do business.
On August 28, 2011 Tropical Storm Irene reached the coast of New England and traversed through western Connecticut and Massachusetts and then along the New Hampshire/Vermont border and eventually exited New England through northern Maine. Irene was downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm prior to reaching New England as winds subsided to approximately 55 mph, and again downgraded to an extratropical storm as winds dropped to near 45 mph. Irene caused coastal damage in western Connecticut due to the storm surge associated with the high winds and significant damage to roadways, bridges, and other infrastructure due to the tremendous amounts of rainfall during the storm. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) New England Water Science Center responded to the storm surge and severe flooding caused by Irene before, during, and after the storm by monitoring tidal storm surge and collecting measurements of river stage and discharge. In some cases, there was record-breaking river stage elevations and associated discharge, especially in Vermont and western New Hampshire.
Leading up to the 10-year anniversary of Tropical Storm Irene the New England Water Science Center posted numerous photographs and other content to highlight the historical significance of the storm and the response by the USGS New England Water Science Center. Additionally, we posted content on our Facebook page using the hashtag #21DaysofIrene.
We focus on the preparation for the storm and some of the coastal and riverine flooding caused by the storm. Preparation was primarily deploying storm surge sensors along New England’s coastline and getting teams ready to go into the field to get discharge measurements of flooding rivers throughout the most impacted areas of New England.
We also feature continued USGS New England Water Science Center response during and after the storm, as well as lessons learned and how USGS has changed their way of responding to this type of storm event.
Below are other science projects associated with this information.
Below are multimedia items associated with this information.
Below are publications associated with this information.