Power appears to be out from Washington’s Third Street north along Market Street.

The extent of the power outage is unknown.

The Pamlico River has eclipsed the bulkhead on the city’s waterfront.

Parts of Water Street and Stewart Parkway have been flooded by rain and, possibly, by storm surge.

The wind continues howling through downtown Washington, gusting well into the 40- to 45-mph range, perhaps beyond, but no damage is apparent at this point.

Hurricane Irene seems close to making landfall along the North Carolina coast.