AccuWeather.com

The AccuWeather.com Hurricane Center expects Irene to target the Southeast coast as a strengthening hurricane after emerging from the Bahamas on Thursday.

The coastal communities at risk to serve as Irene's landfall point later this week lie from Miami, Fla., to Morehead City, N.C.

North Carolina Department of Transportation evacuation routes

"A look at [latest computer model] track forecasts suggest a higher chance of Irene tracking along or just off the coast of eastern Florida and making landfall along the Carolina coast," stated AccuWeather.com Hurricane and Tropical Weather Expert Meteorologist Dan Kottlowski.

Such a scenario would give Irene time to strengthen into a major hurricane and become an even greater danger to lives and property at landfall.

If Hurricane Irene heads for North Carolina, the state could reverse traffic on I-40. The reversal will be considered only when the southeastern coast of North Carolina is threatened by a major hurricane and mandatory evacuations are issued. A decision to reverse I-40 would be made jointly by the secretaries of Transportation and Crime Control & Public Safety, in consultation with the Governor of North Carolina.

In addition to the strength of the storm, other factors to be considered in the decision include projected land fall and the population remaining at the time the mandatory evacuation is ordered.

If this plan is activated, I-40 east will carry two lanes of westbound traffic. Most entrances and exits to the regular eastbound and reversal lanes will be open.

The reversal would begin in Wilmington, just before the Gordon Road exit (Exit 420). The left lane of traffic on N.C. 132 west will be directed onto the reversal lanes and traffic in the right lane will continue on I-40 west.

Commercial vehicles will be restricted to the regular westbound lanes of I-40. The reversal would end at the N.C. 96 (Exit 334) interchange east of Benson. No traffic will be permitted on the eastbound lanes of I-40 between I-95 and N.C. 96.

Please Note: All eastbound traffic on I-40 must exit at 1-95 (Exit 328). Motorists can still reach the Wilmington area via alternate routes such as U.S. 421 and U.S. 117.

Should the reversal be activated, citizens will be advised through local radio and television stations.