National Weather Service Doppler indicates that the eye of Irene made landfall near Cape Lookout around 7:30 a.m.

The estimated intensity of Irene at landfall was 85 mph, making it a Category One hurricane.

As of 8 a.m., the center of Hurricane Irene was located near latitude 34.7 north, longitude 76.5 west. Irene is moving toward the north-northeast near 14 mph and this general motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours.

The center of Irene will move across eastern North Carolina today. The hurricane is forecast to move near or over the Mid-Atlantic coast tonight and move over southern New England on Sunday. Slight weakening is forecast as Irene crosses eastern North Carolina, but Irene is forecast to remain a hurricane as it moves near or over the Mid-Atlantic states and New England.