Hurricane Irene is causing disruption to many flight services from Ireland to the east coast of the United States.

Hurricane Irene shut down New York and menaced other cities as it steamed up the East Coast of America, dumping a foot of rain on North Carolina and Virginia and knocking out power to two million homes and businesses.

Hurricane Irene opened its assault on the Eastern Seaboard today by lashing the North Carolina coast with wind as strong as 115 mph and pounding shoreline homes with waves.

All Aer Lingus flights scheduled to operate to and from New York today have been cancelled because of Hurricane Irene.

New York City's mayor has told residents who need to evacuate ahead of the anticipated arrival of Hurricane Irene that they should do so immediately.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is advising Irish citizens travelling to or living in coastal areas of the east coast of the US from the Carolinas to New England to exercise caution.

Thousands of holidaymakers on the US east coast have been ordered to head home as Hurricane Irene approaches.

Hurricane Irene has regained Category 2 strength with 100mph winds as it heads toward the east coast of the US.