(RALEIGH) -- North Carolina News Network Meteorologist Mike Moss said even though Hurricane Irene has weakened to a category 2 storm, it could still re-strengthen to a category 3 by the time it makes landfall on North Carolina's central coast.

"Likely to make landfall somewhere around midday on Saturday, possibly between Cape Lookout and Cape Hatteras.  We'll still have to watch for any variations in that track as it moves along," said Moss.

He added that the storm surge along the coast will be significant. "It could be as high as six to 11 feet in the waters of Eastern North Carolina.  Strong winds over eastern parts of the state, dropping off as you head toward central Carolina and some heavy rain in the east as well, maybe as much as six to 12 inches over near the coast," said Moss.

More inland, wind gusts would reach 60 to 70 mph east of I-95 and areas just east of the I-95 corridor could get as much as six inches of rain.  Closer to the Triangle area wind gusts could be around 30 miles an hour with a couple of inches of rain possible. Areas to the west of the Triangle will likely see very little impact from Irene.