Western Tidewater joined the rest of southeast Virginia and northeast North Carolina under a hurricane warning this morning as Hurricane Irene roared north through the Atlantic.

The hurricane, expected to be a strong Category 2 or possibly Category 3 storm when it hits the Outer Banks on Saturday, will likely produce winds similar to those of Hurricane Isabel, which caused extensive damage in Western Tidewater in September 2003.

Weather Channel meteorologists predict “extreme” damage in a band of southeast Virginia that includes Franklin, Southampton County and Isle of Wight County.

Check back for regular updates throughout the weekend.