Photo by furcafe.

Good morning, Washington. It’s time to keep an eye on the tropics — Hurricane Irene is currently cutting its way through the Caribbean, and could develop into a Category 3 storm before it slams into the southeastern United States sometime later this week. The storm is so strong and so big (check out this image of the hurricane from space), it could bring a “significant heavy rain event” to the District this weekend.

Number of D.C. Same-Sex Couples Increase Dramatically: Following trends witnessed in Maryland and Virginia, census data shows that Washington had more residents willing to self-identify as being in a same-sex couples in 2010. (Makes sense, considering the legislation that has passed since the previous Census was taken.) According to the Washington Blade, the number of same-sex couples in the District — 5,146 D.C. households in total — went up by 40 percent between 2000 and 2010, far outpacing the general population increase. Mike DeBonis has more on the new census data on same-sex couples, including where such couples are concentrated geographically.

At Least He Wasn’t Planning On Hurting Anyone, I Guess: Authorities arrested a man inside Cabin John Regional Park in Bethesda, after they discovered that he was planning to drive to the National Mall and set off a bunch of fireworks. Glenn Neff, a 27-year-old from Stewart, Florida, was carrying “a large amount of fireworks, drug paraphernalia and alcohol” in his red Jeep Cherokee, reports WJLA; Neff was reportedly planning to draw attention to his displeasure with the banking industry.

Gray’s Number Two: Did you realize that Mayor Vince Gray doesn’t currently have a chief of staff? (Maybe that’s why this whole “social media march” thing felt so disorganized!) Well, it looks like those days might be over — Loose Lips reports that Gray is seriously considering Andrea Pringle, a political consultant who has worked on local campaigns for Vincent Orange, Harry Thomas, Jr., and A. Scott Bolden, among several national campaigns. (Including this one.) Suffice it to say, that kind of local credentials isn’t going to do much to convince Gray is breaking out of a mold, hiring-wise.

Briefly Noted: Better get your tickets for the Nationals’ series against the Dodgers in early September now…Norton: “”Those of us in the District see some unfinished King business here.”…Columbus Circle will finally get a facelift, something people have been calling for for some time…Poker pro says D.C. online gaming lacks appeal for professional gamblers…Defense to seek delay in Lululemon murder trial…More reading puppehs!

This Day in DCist: Last year, we welcomed Tea Partiers to the District.