Hurricane Irene: Heavy rains, wind begin to lash N.C. coast

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/08/hurricane-irene-heavy-rains-wind-begin-to-lash-nc-coast.html

As New York City prepared for a massive transit shutdown, heavy winds and rain from Hurricane Irene began to lash the North Carolina coast Friday night -- a prelude to what government hurricane experts warned could be a devastating weekend trek northward all the way to New England.