On Friday, August 26, Hurricane Irene was weakening as it approached North Carolina.  New update here. Webcams here.

Tropical storm force winds were battering the coast of North Carolina Friday late-afternoon into the early evening hours, and according to the National Hurricane Center live updates Irene is weakening and wind speeds have dropped about 5 mph.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Irene's northward march prompted officials to post weather advisories and issue mandatory evacuations along the U.S. eastern seaboard Friday. More than a quarter-million New Yorkers were ordered to evacuate the city's low-lying coastal areas on Friday as Hurricane Irene began lashing the East Coast with fierce winds and rain.

Irene, a Category 2 hurricane with 100 mph sustained winds, was about 330 miles south-southwest of Cape Hatteras, N.C., moving north at 14 mph, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said in its 11 a.m. EDT advisory.

Weather advisories ranging from tropical storm watches and warnings to hurricane watches and warnings were posted all along the East Coast and mandatory and voluntary evacuations were under way.

Tracking

Tracking Hurricane Irene on Google, Bing, Mobile

Weather Channel Hurricane Tracking Center * Live Tracker

Hurricane view from space:

VIDEO FOOTAGE FROM THE BAHAMAS

For photos of Irene - GO HERE

For APPS for Irene for your smart phone - Go Here

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