Irene Moves Up the East Coast to NYC

Hurricane Irene will deliver a storm surge of up to 8 feet, rainfall of up to 15 inches and isolated tornadoes as it churns toward New York City over the next several hours, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said on Sunday.

Irene remains a Category 1, the lowest level of hurricane classification, with maximum sustained winds near 75 miles per hour, the hurricane center said.

Many are without power.

About 3.3 million customers lost power in the East Coast on Sunday as Hurricane Irene lashed the U.S. East Coast.

Close to 600,000 customers lost power within a half hour early on Sunday morning as the Category One hurricane pummeled the region and loomed close to New York City.

Con Edison, which supplies power to 3 million customers in New York City, had not reached a decision to shut off power to lower Manhattan early on Sunday.

This short clip gives you an idea of how strong Irene was as it hit the Carolinas.  Always dramatic to see a boat get blown away.

Irene Loses Strength, Still a Threat

Hurricane Irene land Saturday, losing some power but threatening a catastrophic run up the U.S. East Coast. More than 2 million people were told to flee, and New York City ordered the nation's biggest subway system shut down for the first time because of a natural disaster.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said the enormous storm's top sustained winds slipped to 90 mph early Saturday from 100 mph overnight but warned Irene would remain a hurricane as it moves up the mid-Atlantic coast, still on track to hit the New York City area and New England.

As the storm's outer bands of wind and rain lashed the North Carolina coast, knocking out power in places, authorities farther north begged people to get out of harm's way.

"Don't wait. Don't delay," said President Obama, who cut short his summer vacation and returned to Washington. "I cannot stress this highly enough: If you are in the projected path of this hurricane, you have to take precautions now."

A coastal town official in North Carolina said witnesses believed a tornado spawned by Irene lifted the roof off a car dealership warehouse in Belhaven on Friday night.

Forecasters said the core of Irene would make landfall in the next few hours, roll up the mid-Atlantic coast Saturday night and over southern New England on Sunday.

Hurricane warnings remain up and down the East Coast.

Mayor Bloomberg Announces Evacuations in NYC

Mayor Michael Bloomberg ordered an evacuation by 5 p.m. Saturday for low-lying areas that house about 270,000 people. Meanwhile, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said subways, buses and commuter trains in the city, on Long Island and in the northern suburbs will begin their final runs around noon Saturday.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials have said they can’t run the transit system once sustained winds reach 39 mph, and they need an eight-hour lead time to shut it down. Officials have entreated residents to take it upon themselves to get out early, but it remained unclear how many would heed the warnings that subways and buses might not be there for them if they waited.

Meanwhile, shelters were set to open and other preparations continued as the nation’s biggest city faced the likelihood of its first hurricane warning since 1985. A hurricane watch was in effect Friday for New York City and Long Island for Sunday, with storm conditions possible Saturday night.

There have already been cancellations at the U.S. Open Tennis which had hoped to put on their annual Kid's Day on Saturday, but that is now off.  Also the Mets were due to play the Atlanta Braves in a 3-game series, but Saturday and Sunday's games have been postponed.

This Morning With Hurricane Irene

As residents up and down the East Coast prepare for Hurricane Irene, here is what happened while you slept.

5:45 a.m. - A hurricane warning has been extended northward. There are hurricane warnings in effect for a number of localities in Virginia and North Carolina.

5:20 a.m. - Hurricane Irene weakens slightly to Cat 2 storm; hurricane warning extended to New Jersey

5 a.m. - According to the newest weather update, winds have come down by five miles. Hurricane Irene's winds are now at 110 mph.

4 a.m. - Some roads and bridges near thecoast in vaious states have been closed.

1:00 a.m. -President Obama declared an emergency exists in the State of North Carolina and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts be in place starting on August 25 and continuing.

12:00 a.m. - Radio and Television stations say they will go with wall-to-wall coverage of Hurricane Irene once it appraches the shore.

Winds From Irene Start to Hit East Coast

Rain, winds, evacuations, Jim Cantore sightings, and massive flight delays.

It's all part of life if you live in the northeast this weekend.  Winds are starting to hit.