In their 8 AM EDT public advisory bulletin the National Hurricane Centre say that the:

CENTER OF IRENE NEARING NEW YORK CITY

whilst the warnings they issued at 2 AM remain much the same. The models used by surf forecasting website MagicSeaweed suggest that the eye of the storm is currently passing almost directly over New York City, accompanied by strong onshore winds:

More on Centre of Irene Nearing New York City – Oyster Creek Reactor Shut Down

As Hurricane Irene moves at 13 miles per hour north north east along the eastern seaboard of the Unites States massive power outages are following in its wake. Here's how North Carolina looks at 1:30 PM EDT:

More on Electric Power Outages Spread North in Irene's Wake

According to the National Hurricane Center:

The eye of Irene made landfall near Cape Lookout, North Carolina around 7:30 AM EDT

The residents of North Carolina won't need me to remind them of that fact even if they are able to read my words, since large numbers of them are currently without mains electricity.  Here's a snapshot of the online outage map provided to their customers in the Carolinas by Progress Energy:

More on Carolinas Lose Power as Hurricane Irene Hits Land

I've been blogging for some years now about the apparently increasing impact of North Atlantic hurricanes, and in particular their effect on one of the poorest nations on the planet, Haiti.  Today Hurricane Irene has left Haiti in its wake, and according to the United Nations this time around:

More on Hurricane Irene Spares Haiti, but Threatens the United States