September 8th, 2017 by WCBC Radio

As Hurricane Irma tears through the northern Caribbean Sea, long-term models suggest the storm could bring significant rainfall and damaging winds into the eastern United States early next week. While meteorologists’ immediate focus is on Irma’s life-threatening winds and storm surge, they are also keeping an eye on long-term forecasting models that now suggest the storm will track up Florida’s Atlantic coast, through the Carolinas and into the Ohio Valley. It’s too early to predict precise impacts or timing, but odds that Irma turns out to sea without impacting the U.S. appear to be shrinking. The National Weather Service’s Baltimore/Washington office cautioned that if Irma reaches Maryland, likely between Monday and Wednesday, it could bring flooding, damaging winds and possibly tornadoes. Allegany County will be prepared according to Emergency Services Director Dick Devore…