STORM

Hurricane Irene reached 120 mph as it intensified, ravaging Acklins and Crooked Islands in the southeastern Bahamas. The National Hurricane Center said that Irene is a large and dangerous storm and that it is expected to gain momentum in the next day.

Tourists and residents of the small North Carolina island calmly flocked to ferries Wednesday. Hurricane Irene strengthened to a Category 3 storm while people on Ocracoke filled their cars with gas and gathered supplies.

Virtually the entire U.S. East Coast is on alert late Wednesday for a possible impact from Hurricane Irene, threatening to blaze a trail from eastern North Carolina northward to New England by Monday. By the time the storm departs the East Coast late Monday, it will likely have lashed with significant impacts from the Bahamas, where it is currently located, to eastern North Carolina, and up through the northeast U.S. -- possibly making a direct hit on Long Island, New York late Sunday.

As Hurricane Irene approaches the U.S., we take a look back at some at some of the most epic storms that have made landfall in the last century.

Hurricane Irene continues to strengthen and make cut a path toward the eastern United States, with good odds of striking the New York area, and possibly making a direct hit on Long Island late Sunday. Irene is the first hurricane of the 2011 Atlantic season and threatening to be the first to strike the U.S. since Ike in 2008.

Hurricane Irene 2011 is gaining momentum and heading for the East Coast. Vacationers have been advised to change plans. As can be expected, many are choosing hope for the best over expect the worst.

The entire East Coast of the U.S. is on Hurricane Irene's path.

It is rare for a hurricane to strike New York City directly; more often, they hit eastern Long Island and Cape Cod. Since 1851, only five hurricanes have struck within 75 miles of the city, although the edges of others have caused damage. Here are six of the worst to affect the region.

The earthquake reminded us that we’ve got to be prepared for a variety of things.

Powerful Hurricane Irene could pose a big threat to the densely populated northeast United States, including New York, as it swings up the eastern seaboard from Saturday on its current forecast track, the top U.S. government hurricane forecaster said on Wednesday.

As most New Yorkers and readers know, a hurricane is a dangerous storm Further, it goes without saying that the safest habit is to leave when government officials request that residents of a likely storm-affected area leave. Accordingly, here are three positive reasons to evacuate on time.

During the summer and fall of 1780, at least 27,000 people perished from hurricanes -- an all-time record -- in the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico and the East Coast of the newly-formed U.S.

Hurricane Irene is following a path that will bring it up the East Coast from the Outer Banks of North Carolina to Long Island, New York and New England. But, where exactly will it hit? Here's a look at the scenarios.

The entire Bahamas – which comprises 29 islands, 661 cays, and 2,387 islets -- remains under a hurricane watch.

Federal officials have warned Irene could cause flooding, power outages or worse all along the East Coast as far north as Maine, even if it stays offshore.

A 12-year-old Swedish girl was uninjured after being struck by lightning twice while taking a shower during a thunderstorm on Aug. 17.

As Hurricane Irene's path sends it barreling up the East Coast towards New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maine, here's a look at the worst hurricanes on record to have hit New England.

Hurricane Irene has been upgraded to a Category 3 storm and could even grow stronger as it approaches the Carolinas and Northeast this week.

Hurricane Irene became a major storm on Wednesday, upgraded to Category 3 as it battered parts of the Bahamas with 115-mile-per hour winds and took aim on the New York area. Forecast models show a high threat level for eastern North Carolina to New England, and models showed Long Island holds potential for a direct strike.

Such heavy rains will also prompt fears of flash flooding in the Delaware Valley.

Earthquakes are far more common than most Americans are aware