Irene Takes NNE Turn, Tropical Storm Winds Whipping Carolina Coast

MIAMI (CBS4) – States from South Carolina to Maine are preparing for a potentially heavy blow from Hurricane Irene. Rain from the storm's outer bands has already begun to fall along the North and South Carolina coast and thousands have already lost power.

The coast of the Carolinas is already experiencing some Tropical Storm Force winds however, the storm has weakened slightly.

At 11:00 p.m., the center of Irene was about 195 miles south-southwest of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph with higher gusts at times.  The system was moving to the north near 13 mph. This motion is expected to continue during the next 24 hours then a gradual turn toward the north-northeast should begin by Saturday.

On this forecast track, the core of Irene will approach the coast of North Carolina Friday night, then pass near or over the North Carolina coast Saturday. The hurricane is forecast to move near or over the Mid-Atlantic coast Saturday night.

Up The East Coast

On Thursday the U.S. Navy ordered the Second Fleet in Virginia to leave Norfolk Naval Station.  Sixty four ships are affected by the order.

Tourists on a North Carolina barrier island began evacuating early Wednesday, a process that is expected to end Friday. The 16-mile-long barrier island is home to about 800 year-round residents and a tourist population that swells into the thousands when vacationers rent rooms and cottages.

Click Here For More On East Coast Preparations

In Maryland, Ocean City residents were ordered to evacuate, and tourists were told to pack up and head out.  There is also a mandatory evacuation order for coastal Worcester County.

Latest On Preparations From Baltimore

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has ordered mandatory evacuations for residents in low-lying coastal areas ahead of Hurricane Irene.

The low-lying areas are scattered across the city and are home to about 270,000 residents. They include parts of Battery Park City, Coney Island and the Rockaways.

Check Out The Latest On Preparations In The Big Apple

Mandatory evacuations have not been ordered in Philadelphia, however, mass transit in suburban Philadelphia will halt at 12:30 a.m. Sunday because of the hurricane. Gov. Tom Corbett has declared state of emergency in advance of expected arrival of wind and rain.

Philadelphia Prepares For Worst Case Scenario

In Boston, Red Cross is pre-positioning emergency response vehicles, mobilizing trained disaster workers and preparing supplies in case they are needed. Mandatory evacuations have not been ordered.

Boston Residents Told To Have Plans In Place

WARNINGS AND WATCHES at 11 a.m.

The following warnings have been issued:

HURRICANE WARNINGS for Little River Inlet North Carolina northward to Sagamore Beach Massachusetts, including the Pamlico, Albemarle, and Currituck Sounds, Delaware Bay, Chesapeake Bay south of Drum Point, New York City, Long Island, Long Island Sound, Coastal Connecticut and Rhode Island, Block Island, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. .

TROPICAL STORM WARNING for north of Edisto beach South Carolina to Little River Inlet, Chesapeake Bay from Drum Point northward and the Tidal Potomac, and north of Sagamore Beach to Merrimack river

TROPICAL STORM WATCH for Merrimack River to Eastport Maine

You can get complete details on the storm, including up-to date maps and forecasts, at the CBSMiami Tropical Weather Center.

You can also check on preps for tropical weather with checklists, shutter advice, and even preparation videos at CBSMiami Hurricane Preps