Hurricane reaches category three
Hurricane Irene has reached category three and forecasters fear it could become category four by today.
The core of the hurricane is heading towards the Bahamas with winds up to 115 mph and higher gusts.
It is expected to reach the east coast of the US by the end of the week and residents living in the Carolinas and through to New England have been warned to carefully watch its progress.
North Carolina and residents are stocking up on supplies and voluntary evacuations have already started on barrier islands.
Earlier this week, Irene struck the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, the Turks and Caicos Islands and south-eastern parts of the Bahamas leaving thousands without electricity and water supplies.
US President Barack Obama has declared a state of emergency for Puerto Rico.
by Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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