On the 4th of August, a large tropical wave spawned thunderstorms that seemed to quickly organize...

Early on the 5th, it was designated TD9...

It was fighting for survival on Friday for Tropical Depression Nine. On visible satellite during Friday, the depression displayed a very healthy low-level circulation however there was and is one problem that is inhibiting this tropical system – lack of convection.

With dry air working its way into the environment of TD Nine, there is no existing “fuel” for thunderstorms to thrive and explode around the center of circulation.

On Sunday Morning, TD9 was renamed Irene, the 9th Named storm of the season, and ONCE AGAIN, it breaks a record -- the 9th named storm of the season, far earlier than it has ever happened before... since 1851!

History was against the storm... only one storm in the location of Irene's path made it to the east coast...

As was the weather... it experienced strong windshear, which made it difficult for development, and reduced the storm down to a Tropical Depression...  Once clear of the Shear, however, Irene spun itself back up, and by Saturday, it was dabbling with hurricane status...

By Sunday, it was a minimal hurricane... its course, though, was North East, and out over cooler waters, out of harm's way...

Irene did in fact turn seaward, and made a beeline to the North East.  On Wednesday, the 17th of August, the storm went Extra Tropical, and became part of a storm front heading for Greenland...