Here in Seattle:

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Meanwhile, the National Weather Service has reason to shout about (and at) North Carolina:

...HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT...
...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
...PROBABILITY OF TROPICAL STORM/HURRICANE CONDITIONS...

THE CHANCE FOR HURRICANE CONDITIONS AT THIS TIME IS UP TO 56 PERCENT. ALSO...THE CHANCE FOR TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS AT THIS TIME IS UP TO 97 PERCENT. THIS REPRESENTS A GENERAL STEADY TREND SINCE THE LAST FORECAST.

...WINDS...

AS HURRICANE IRENE APPROACHES...SUSTAINED TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN EARLY SATURDAY MORNING. MAXIMUM WINDS ARE FORECAST TO BE IN THE 50 TO 70 MPH RANGE WITH GUSTS TO 85 MPH. DAMAGING WINDS ARE EXPECTED. POORLY ANCHORED MOBILE HOMES MAY BE DESTROYED...ALONG WITH THOSE OF OLD OR POOR CONSTRUCTION. SOME WELL ANCHORED MOBILE HOMES WILL HAVE SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO ROOFS...WALLS...AND WINDOWS...AND COULD BECOME UNINHABITABLE. SOME HOMES OF FRAME CONSTRUCTION WILL SUSTAIN PARTIAL WALL AND ROOF FAILURE...AND POSSIBLY BLOWN OUT WINDOWS. LOOSE OUTDOOR ITEMS WILL BECOME PROJECTILES...CAUSING ADDITIONAL DAMAGE AND POSSIBLE INJURY. MANY AREAS WILL EXPERIENCE POWER OUTAGES WITH SOME DOWNED POWER POLES. NUMEROUS LARGE BRANCHES OF HEALTHY TREES WILL SNAP. SOME TREES WILL BE UPROOTED...ESPECIALLY WHERE THE
GROUND IS SATURATED.

More after the jump.

...STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE...

AS HURRICANE IRENE APPROACHES THE COAST...THERE IS AN INCREASING
CHANCE FOR COMBINED STORM SURGE AND ASTRONOMICAL TIDE WATERS UP
TO 8 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL WITHIN AREAS CLOSER TO THE COAST...
RESULTING IN WORST CASE FLOOD INUNDATION OF 4 TO 8 FEET ABOVE
GROUND LEVEL SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE SURGE ZONE.
THE LOCATIONS MOST LIKELY TO REALIZE THE GREATEST FLOODING
INCLUDE NORFOLK...VIRGINIA BEACH...COROLLA...OCEAN CITY...
WACHAPREAGUE...AND AREAS ADJACENT TO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY. THE MOST
LIKELY PERIOD OF IMPACT WILL BE DURING THE TIME OF HIGH TIDE...
SATURDAY EVENING.
THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY FROM COASTAL
FLOODING. THE CONCERN IS FOR THE CHANCE OF MAJOR COASTAL FLOODING
TO OCCUR IN AREAS WITHIN THE SURGE ZONE...RESULTING IN DAMAGING
AND LIFE-THREATENING FLOODING. IF REALIZED...PEOPLE WITHIN THE
THREATENED AREAS WHO FAIL TO HEED OFFICIAL EVACUATION ORDERS WILL
NEEDLESSLY PLACE THEIR LIVES IN DANGER. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE
FOR THOSE STAYING BEHIND IN VULNERABLE LOCATIONS SUCH AS HOMES
AND BUSINESSES NEAR THE SHORE...AND ONE STORY DWELLINGS IN FLOOD-
PRONE AREAS.

...INLAND FLOODING...

A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE AREA. SEE LATEST
FORECAST FOR LATEST INFORMATION. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE FLOOD
WARNINGS FOR YOUR LOCATION...AND BE READY TO ACT IF FLOODING
RAINS OCCUR.
8 TO 12 INCHES OF STORM TOTAL RAINFALL IS EXPECTED ACROSS INLAND
SECTIONS OF EASTERN VIRGINIA AND THE LOWER MARYLAND EASTERN
SHORE. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE FLOOD WARNINGS FOR YOUR LOCATION...AND
BE READY TO ACT IF FLOODING RAINS OCCUR.

...COASTAL HAZARDS...

THERE WILL BE A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG AREA BEACHES
TODAY AND SATURDAY. LARGE BREAKING WAVES...AND ROUGH SURF WILL
ALSO BE A THREAT. DUE TO RIP CURRENTS AND VERY ROUGH SURF...BEACH
GOERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO STAY OUT OF THE WATER.
Instructions: FOR THOSE UNDER A WARNING...NOW IS THE TIME TO RUSH TO COMPLETION PREPARATIONS FOR THE PROTECTION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY. EVACUATE IF DIRECTED TO DO SO BY LOCAL OFFICIALS...OR IF YOUR HOME IS VULNERABLE TO HIGH WINDS OR FLOODING. FOR INTERESTS AT PORTS...DOCKS...AND MARINAS...URGENTLY COMPLETE PRESCRIBED PREPARATIONS ACCORDING TO YOUR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN FOR TROPICAL CYCLONES. IF YOU LIVE ON A BOAT...MAKE FINAL PREPARATIONS FOR SECURING YOUR CRAFT BEFORE LEAVING IT. BE SURE TO ACCOUNT FOR THE POSSIBLE CLOSURE OF BRIDGES AND CAUSEWAYS. REGARDING ANY COASTAL WATERS UNDER A WARNING...SMALL CRAFT SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT AND WELL SECURED. FOR ADDITIONAL PRECAUTIONARY AND PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION... PLEASE REFER TO THE DETAILED RECOMMENDATIONS RELATIVE TO YOUR LOCATION AS FURTHER DESCRIBED BY YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE AND LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.