With Hurricane Irene expected to track farther east along the East coast of the U.S. than previously expected, the most similar past hurricane to Irene for the U.S. is Bob in 1991.

Like Bob, Irene is expected to make landfall in New England. In contrast, however, Irene is predicted to have a greater impact on North Carolina than Bob did.

The Rundown on Bob

Bob was the last hurricane to make landfall in New England. It tracked very close to the Outer Banks of North Carolina as a strong Category 2 hurricane, though the eye did not move onshore.

From there, Bob briefly strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane, then weakened to a Category 2 storm before making landfall twice in Rhode Island, first on Block and second in Newport. Bob also made another landfall as a strong tropical storm in Maine.

Creating an estimated $1.5 billion (1991 USD) in damage, Hurricane Bob was one of the costliest hurricanes in New England’s history, according to Wikipedia. The hurricane claimed an estimated 17 lives.

This image, courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shows Hurricane Bob approaching the New England coast on Aug. 19, 1991.

Comparing Bob to Irene

Overall, Irene’s track is expected to be similar to Bob’s for the East coast of the U.S. However, Irene has a better chance of making landfall over the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Bob tracked farther offshore.

Beyond North Carolina, Irene’s track is likely to be quite similar to Bob’s with a landfall over the southeastern coast of New England.

As far as intensity goes, Irene is a stronger hurricane than Bob, already attaining Category 3 strength over the Bahamas. Irene is forecast to become a Category 4 hurricane within the next day or so.

While Irene will weaken after passing by North Carolina and as it approaches New England, it is still expected to hit as a strong Category 1 or even a Category 2 hurricane.

Away from the U.S., Irene and Bob are very much different hurricanes. Irene first formed over the central Atlantic, east of the Leeward Islands, while Bob formed much closer to home, east of the northern Bahamas.

Irene has caused damage and flooding across the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Hispaniola and Turks and Caicos and is about to have a major impact on the Bahamas. Bob’s impacts were overwhelmingly limited to the United States.

Still Has Similarities to Bertha, Other Past Hurricanes

For an overall track, Irene is also a similar hurricane to Bertha in 1996. Like Irene, Bertha first formed over the central Atlantic. Both storms took a track through the Leeward Islands and skirted the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico at hurricane strength.

Irene is tracking farther west than Bertha through the Bahamas. The center of Bertha stayed just to the east.

Irene is forecast to be a slightly stronger storm than Bertha. Bertha reached only Category 3 hurricane strength for a brief period of time to the east of the southern Bahamas. Irene is forecast to strengthen as it blasts through the Bahamas, likely attaining Category 3 or 4 strength and remaining a major hurricane as it barrels toward the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Other Hurricanes of the Past that are Similar to Irene:

Hurricane Fran 1996

As AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski pointed out, Fran from 1996 was the last hurricane to strike the Carolinas with Category 3 strength (the threshold for a major hurricane).

Fran barreled onshore with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph in the vicinity of Cape Fear, N.C.

Though Irene’s strength and landfall point in the U.S. may be similar to Fran, the rest of Fran’s track across the Atlantic Basin was quite different from Irene. Fran formed just off the coast of Africa and tracked well north of the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico and Hispaniola and east of the Bahamas, unlike Irene.

Fran also took a much different path inland over the U.S., tracking northwestward through the Virginias and Ohio. Irene is expected to move along or parallel to the coast of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

This Wikipedia image shows the track of Fran in 1996.

Hurricane Floyd 1999

Hurricane Floyd took a path across the Atlantic that battered the northern Bahamas and brought the storm inland over Cape Fear, N.C., as a Category 2 storm.

At its strongest, Floyd was a Category 4 hurricane as it passed north of the southern Bahamas and plowed into several islands of the northern Bahamas.

Floyd caused an estimated $4.5 billion in damage and was blamed for 57 fatalities.

This Wikipedia image shows the track of Floyd in 1999.

Hurricane Hugo in 1989

Hugo is another disastrous hurricane that took a path through the Leeward Islands, grazed Puerto Rico and ultimately made landfall in the Carolinas.

The hurricane struck Isle of Palms, S.C., as a powerful Category 4 storm with winds of 140 mph. Hugo claimed 27 lives in South Carolina, left nearly 100,000 people homeless and caused $10 billion in damage.

Hugo’s landfall point was well south of where Irene is expected to blast onshore. Hugo also tracked well inland over the U.S., whereas Irene is predicted to stay closer to the coast of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast after landfall.

AccuWeather.com’s own Jesse Ferrell was living in North Carolina when Hugo hit and has an excellent recount of what he experienced in words and pictures.

This Wikipedia image shows the track of Hugo in 1989.