Emergency officials in Florida, Georgia and Carolinas make preparations for intensifying storm
A stronger-than-expected Hurricane Irene is headed northwestward toward the United States and is expected to make landfall this weekend. The southeast coast of the U.S. is expected to bear the brunt of the storm, which became a Category 2 hurricane Monday evening. Meteorologists expect Irene could strengthen to a Category 3 storm. Irene hit the Dominican Republic with 100 mph winds and heavy rain Tuesday, and is projected to reach the Bahamas by early Wednesday.