18N x 65.5W...Irene may be at hurricane force soon below Puerto Rico as it is building strength rather quickly...Latest loops have tended to be more westerly which doesn't help them overnight...
Irene at 989 mb at 1 am ET...eastern Florida taking a licking to the residential power infrastructure as Irene nudges north along her Eastern coastline seems to be coming more into the long range guidance...
GFS projecting up to a cat 3 strength cane for the Carolinas is on the east side of center of the long range cone...
More time over open water baking under up to a 120 degree heat index isn't the best of possibilities to consider...LJ