Warnings, watches issued in U.S. ahead of Hurricane Irene

[nadinbrzezinski]

Miami (CNN) -- Forecasters Thursday issued watches and warnings for the U.S. East Coast in advance of Hurricane Irene, a monstrous storm that could bring large amounts of rain and a storm surge to North Carolina and other states as it tracks north.

A hurricane warning was issued for coastal North Carolina from Little River Inlet north to the Virginia border, including the Pamlico, Albemarle and Currituck sounds, the National Hurricane Center said in its 5 p.m. ET advisory.

Irene, moving north-northwest at 14 mph, was expected to turn northward from the Bahamas early Friday. In anticipation, Amtrak and major U.S. airlines began canceling flights or putting them on a watch list.

Initial landfall was expected Saturday in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, but Irene could have other areas in its sights as it skirts the East Coast all the way to New England.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/americas/08/25/tropical.weather/index.html

Didn't we hear the same about Katrina (which it was).

Global Weather Change = increasing intensity of weather events... as predicted by the science.