Large waves breaking on the shore ahead of Hurricane Irene, in August 2011. These waves are off Hope Town, part of the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas. Hurricane Irene formed in the Atlantic and moved westward and northward through the Caribbean, and along the eastern coast of the USA and Canada. It reached hurricane strength on 21 August 2011, strengthened to a Category 3 hurricane while passing through the south_eastern Bahamas 24_25 August, and dissipated on 28 August 2011. Irene made landfall four times in the Bahamas, causing flooding and damage.