Keeping an eye on Irene

Hurricane Irene's western edges begin strafing the North Carolina coast in this satellite image from NOAA and the National Hurricane Center taken at 3:15 a.m. Eastern, Aug. 26, 2011. Latest forecasts had Irene crashing up the North Carolina coastline Saturday, then churning up the East while drenching areas from Virginia to New York City before a much-weakened storm reaches New England.

Complete coverage: Hurricane Irene
National Hurricane Center

Credit: NOAA/National Hurricane Center