Hurricane Irene Prompts Removal of Flat Rock Park River Docks

In what will almost certainly not be the final precaution taken by local officials ahead of the approaching Hurricane Irene, Lower Merion Township announced the docks at will be removed by Friday.

The storm could further swell a river filled with above-average amounts of rain this month. When the storm passes and the river level stabilizes, the docks should be restored, according to the announcement via the township website.

Irene is no longer expected to make landfall in Florida, but the Philadelphia area could still feel its effects starting this weekend.

The storm moved through the central Bahamas on Wednesday and is picking up speed and strength in the Atlantic Ocean as it churns toward the Carolinas. The latest forecast track from the National Hurricane Center in Miami projects Irene will make landfall in coastal North Carolina on Saturday afternoon. Forecasters expect tropical storm or hurricane watches to begin in the Carolinas Thursday.

The National Weather Service says the interaction between Irene’s projected track and a stalled frontal system could mean heavy rain Saturday and Sunday, with the possibility of a period of strong winds Sunday.

The local seven-day forecast from the National Weather Service is calling for showers and thunderstorms Thursday afternoon and early evening. There’s a slight chance of rain on Friday.