27 August 2011Last updated at 16:24

In pictures: Hurricane Irene arrives

Taxi drives through flooded road in New York's Times Square.

Hurricane Irene brought ferocious winds and torrential rain to New York, as the city braced itself for a worse onslaught with fears of flooding in low-lying areas.

High water near Morehead City, North Carolina, 27 August.

The storm made landfall on the US east coast, in the early hours of Saturday morning, after leaving a trail of destruction in the Caribbean earlier in the week.

Abandoned beachfront houses at Nag's Head, North Carolina, 27 Aug

Bands of high winds and rain lashed the North Carolina coast and its resorts, pushing surf up to the backs of some houses and hotels in some places.

Virginia Beach visitors point out the waves as Hurricane Irene approaches,Virginia 27 Aug

Warnings have been issued in many parts of the eastern seaboard about the likely dangers of the storm, and several states declared an emergency ahead of Irene's arrival.

Boarded-up buildings in Ocean City, Maryland

In advance of the storm, towns and cities expecting to be in Irene's path - like Ocean City, Maryland - have been boarded up and evacuated.

Empty boardwalk at Atlantic City, New Jersey

In Atlantic City, New Jersey, usually a bustling holiday town, the boardwalk has been emptied and the city's famous casinos closed.

Residents fill sandbags in Annapolis, Maryland, in preparation for Irene's arrival (27 August)

Saturday saw residents in Annapolis, Maryland, filling sandbags as Irene swept closer.

Rachel Isaac tries to hitch a ride out of the Cape Hatteras region of North Carolina on 26 August 2011

People were urged to leave low-lying areas in good time before the storm arrives.

In New York, public transport is shutting down from midday local time - and airports will no longer be allowing incoming flights to land. Many departing flights have also been cancelled.

A man catches a hurricane-churned wave in Charleston, South Carolina, on 26 August 2011

President Barack Obama has warned Hurricane Irene could be a "historic" storm. Seven states from North Carolina to Connecticut have declared emergencies. But a few hardy surfers could not resist the large waves churned up ahead of the storm.

US & Canada

In pictures: Hurricane Irene arrives

Share this page

Services

About BBC News