A red disc on a Miami's National Hurricane Center wall map shows the location of Hurricane Irene as it passes through the Bahamas Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011. Hurricane Irene strengthened to a major Category 3 storm over the Bahamas on Wednesday with the East Coast in its sights. Irene's maximum sustained winds increased to near 115 mph (185 kph) with additional strengthening forecast, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)