Irene Downgraded to a Category 1, Heavy Rain Arrives

According to the Boston Globe, "Hurricane force winds will knock down trees and power lines, leaving residents in the dark, while torrential downpours will flood urban areas, and heavy surf will pound the coast, flooding low-lying areas, and endangering buildings and people on the shoreline. That’s the latest dire forecast for Hurricane Irene, which is expected to begin affecting Massachusetts today and then hit with a vengeance on Sunday."

As of 2:30 p.m., rain and thunderstorms had begun in Marlborough. Steady rain is not expected to begin until 8 p.m., but the National Weather Service is currently predicting 4 to 6 inches of rain before Monday with sustained winds of 45 to 65 mph with gusts up to 80 mph at the height of the storm. 

As of 8 p.m. Saturday evening, the will be open as an emergency shelter. See story . 

Governor Patrick issued a state of emergency yesterday as storm preparations continued throughout the state.

“Hurricane Irene is projected to be a powerful and potentially dangerous storm that will have a significant impact on us here in Massachusetts,” the governor said during a briefing at the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency bunker in Framingham.

Continue to check back with Marlborough Patch for the latest news pertaining to Hurricane Irene.

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