MIAMI — Hurricane Irene is a little weaker but still a Category 2 storm with top sustained winds of 105 miles per hour (165 kph) on its way to the U.S. East Coast.
The National Hurricane Center in Miami said little change in strength was expected before Irene reaches the North Carolina coast Saturday.
A hurricane warning was extended into Chesapeake Bay as far as Drum Point. Existing warnings remain from North Carolina to New Jersey
.