NEWS FLASH

Irene Dumps Extreme Rain On East Coast | Irene, downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm as it worked its way along the New Jersey coast, has deposited extreme amounts of rainfall along the East Coast. The storm’s rain, fueled by greenhouse pollution that has warmed the oceans and increased atmospheric water vapor, is landing on regions already soaked by the wettest August on record. Parts of North Carolina and Virginia were flooded by 14 to 16 inches of rain.

48-hour precipitation totals from Hurricane Irene. National Weather Service