Hurricane Irene makes landfall near Cape Lookout, N.C.

The center of weakening Hurricane Irene crossed the North Carolina coast around 7:30 a.m. Saturday, sending heavy rain and strong winds that were causing considerable damage over hundreds of miles. The National Hurricane Center said Irene had dropped to Category 1 status, with 85 mph winds, by the time it reached the N.C. coast near Cape Lookout, but forecasters say the storm will remain a minimal hurricane as it crosses North Carolina today, re-emerges into the Atlantic Ocean and moves up the coast, then makes a second landfall near Long Island.