Irene - extraordinary threat

At press time last night, The Weather Channel reported as "EXTREME" the threat level for Hurricane Irene along the East Coast from eastern North Carolina to New England.

"The threat level from the eastern North Carolina to New England is extreme with potential for widespread damaging winds, flooding rain, and in some locations, coastal flooding and storm surge is very real this weekend.

"Irene is a hurricane that poses an extraordinary threat and is one that no one has yet experienced in North Carolina to the mid-Atlantic to the Northeast and New England. This includes Norfolk, Washington, DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, Hartford, and Boston," The Weather Channel reported.

Irene, a Category One hurricane, has the potential to produce flooding rains, high winds, downed trees (on houses, cars, power lines) and widespread power outages. Significant impacts along the immediate coast include high waves, surge and beach erosion.

The hurricane, which made landfall in North Carolina yesterday, is expected to impact the Northeast US today into Monday.