Originally published Saturday, August 27, 2011 at 3:54 AM

Forecasters: Irene makes landfall in New Jersey

Forecasters say Irene, still barely a hurricane now with top sustained winds of 75-mph (120-kph) winds, has made landfall on the New Jersey coast.

The Associated Press

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Jackie Sparnackel has to abandon her van and her belongings near the Frisco Pier in Frisco, North Carolina.

STEVE HELBER / AP

A stranded sailboat flounders in the surf along the Willoughby Spit area of Norfolk, Va. as Hurricane Irene hits.

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A man walks down the board walk as winds from approaching Hurricane Irene start hit the area in Ocean City, Maryland. The state of Maryland has declared a state of emergency as heavy winds and surf from Hurricane Irene approaches the coast.

GERRY BROOME / AP

Abandoned beachfront houses are surrounded by rising water as the effects of Hurricane Irene are felt in Nags Head, N.C., Saturday.

GERRY BROOME / AP

A man struggles against the wind while trying to walk over the dunes as the effects of Hurricane Irene are felt in Nags Head, N.C..

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Hopefully this will get a good chunk of money out of the greedy insurance companies... (August 27, 2011, by paradox lost) Read more

I can tell that Irene's effects are diminishing because: 1. The intensity and duration... (August 27, 2011, by Arrrgggh! The Pirate) Read more

Thanks for the good wishes, moenmac, right now we're getting the worst of Irene as the... (August 27, 2011, by Arrrgggh! The Pirate) Read more

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MIAMI —

Forecasters say Irene, still barely a hurricane now with top sustained winds of 75-mph (120-kph) winds, has made landfall on the New Jersey coast.

The National Hurricane Center said the center of the huge storm lumbered ashore near Little Egg Inlet at 5:35 a.m.

The center says a hurricane warning remains in effect from coastal Virginia northward to Sagamore Beach, Mass. The storm remained a Category 1 hurricane and forecasters expect little change in strength before an expected landfall later Sunday.

The center says Irene was 100 miles (160 kilometers) south-southwest of New York City. It was moving north-northeast at 18 mph (30 kph).