The Latest On Hurricane Irene

The National Weather Service has upgraded the local severe weather alerts from watches to warnings as Hurricane Irene heads north.

Philadelphia and Delaware County are under a hurricane warning and a tropical storm warning is in effect for Chester, Montgomery and Bucks counties.

A watch means that the weather condition is expected, but not imminent, while a warning means that the weather condition is imminent or occurring.

Irene is now a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph.

The National Weather Service is forecasting scattered showers and thunderstorms after 5 p.m. Friday and continuing through Saturday with tropical storm conditions possible starting Saturday night. Some storms could bring heavy rain and winds hitting up to 39 mph, according to the weather service. Tropical storm conditions could continue through Sunday with heavy rainfall possible; things should slow down toward the evening.