Hurricane Irene Actually Benefitting Louisiana

Irene has become the first official hurricane of the 2011 season but according to the expert hurricane trackers she poses no threat to Louisiana and the Gulf coast. State Climatologist Barry Keim says Irene is a category one hurricane,  located just north of the Dominican Republic, headed for the US east coast. Keim says the water temperatures in the Atlantic, along Irene's projected route, are warmer than normal which should see Irene grow into a major storm of category three or greater. Keim says the areas of the Gulf of Mexico and Louisiana are being sheltered by a strong ridge of high pressure that is keeping our weather hot and dry but is also keeping any storm from entering the Gulf.