Baku, August 27 (AZERTAC). President Barack Obama has warned that Hurricane Irene, currently looming off the east coast of the US, could be a "historic" storm. Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in parts of four states, and in low-lying areas of New York City. Seven states from North Carolina to Connecticut have declared emergencies ahead of Irene`s arrival. The category two storm has weakened a little yet is expected to make landfall with winds of up to 100mph (155km/h). Irene, which has already caused havoc in the Caribbean, is expected to hit the coast of North Carolina on Saturday before barrelling northwards towards Washington and New York City a day later.

Both cities have now declared states of emergency, with authorities in the capital warning of a shortage of sandbags after high demand. Amtrak, the US rail network, announced it was cancelling services between Washington and Boston from Saturday, having already suspended operations south to Virginia and beyond. At 20:00 EDT on Friday (00:00 GMT on Saturday), the storm was 180 miles (290km) south-south-west of Cape Lookout, North Carolina. Irene had turned towards the north-north-west, the NHC said, in line with forecasts that said it would effectively hug the long, densely populated eastern seaboard of the US. A formal hurricane warning was in place along a vast stretch of coastline ranging from North Carolina, through Maryland, and right through New York City into New England. The wide span of the storm, which is generating strong rain and wind some 90 miles (150km) from its centre, means a tropical storm warning is place for an even wider area. By 22:00 EDT wind and rain was already being felt in towns along the North Carolina coast, US media reported. Mr Obama, on holiday in Martha`s Vineyard, an island on the Massachusetts coast, headed home from his break one night early. On Friday he said in a statement to reporters: "I cannot stress this highly enough: if you are in the projected path of this hurricane, you have to take precautions now. Both cities have now declared states of emergency, with authorities in the capital warning of a shortage of sandbags after high demand. Amtrak, the US rail network, announced it was cancelling services between Washington and Boston from Saturday, having already suspended operations south to Virginia and beyond.