Irene becomes hurricane on path to U.S.

SAMANA, Dominican Republic -- Hurricane Irene cut a destructive path through the Caribbean yesterday, raking Puerto Rico with strong winds and rain and then spinning just north of the Dominican Republic on a track that could carry it to the U.S. Southeast by the end of the week.

Irene grew into a Category 2 hurricane with 100-mph winds north of the Dominican Republic. The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said it could become a monstrous Category 3 storm by the time it slams into the United States, possibly landing in South Carolina, Florida or Georgia.

Irene slashed directly across Puerto Rico, tearing up trees and knocking out power to more than a million people, before heading out to sea north of the Dominican Republic, where the powerful storm's outer bands were buffeting the north coast with dangerous sea surge and downpours.

The first hurricane of the Atlantic season was a large system that could cause dangerous mudslides in the Dominican Republic, the hurricane center said. It was not expected to make a direct hit on neighboring Haiti, though that country could still see heavy rain from the storm.

Dominican officials said the government had emergency food available for 1.5 million people if needed and the country's military and public safety brigades were on alert.

Irene is forecast to grow into a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 115 mph over the Bahamas on Thursday. Forecasters warned that, by the weekend, the storm's path could vary significantly from the current projection.

National Weather Service meteorologist Lauren Nash said it was too early "to safely make an accurate track" of the storm. The Upton official added, "We're not in the National Hurricane Center's forecast track for Irene."

Florida residents were urged to ensure they had batteries, drinking water, food and other supplies.

Officials in Charleston, S.C., also warned residents to monitor Irene closely. It has been six years since a hurricane hit the South Carolina coast, said Joe Farmer of the state Emergency Management Division.

In the Bahamian capital of Nassau, Henry Vera, 29, of Mineola, said the approaching hurricane will not cause him to cut his vacation short in Cable Beach, where he and his girlfriend are booked at a hotel until Sunday.

"I've never been in a hurricane before so I have no idea what to expect," Vera said.

"But I'm not going to leave early, I still have a week off work and I'm still on vacation."