Dramatic pics: Hurricane Irene

Satellite images of Hurricane Irene, the Category 3 storm that's raging along the eastern coast of the United States, show just how massive it is.

Another view, this time outlining the eye of the storm.

A wider shot of the same view, showing Hurricane Irene's massive width.

New York has already declared a state of emergency due to the hurricane while the government expects losses of billions of dollars.

Thermal imaging shows that Hurricane Irene is denser than previously thought, with winds raging at over 115 miles per hour.

Glennansley tweets: Hurricane Irene band moving in over Wake Forest. Awesome looking. Pic doesn't do justice.

"... and now it's gone," he further adds.

Boaters brave the waves and wind caused by Hurricane Irene at the Morris Island light house, South Carolina.

Sophie Waterfield, from left, Skylr Peele, Chloe Waterfield and Tim Waterfield look out at the ocean waves near the Frisco, N.C., pier as the first storm bands from Hurricane Irene arrive.

Seanashwx posted this pic on Twitter: "The ocean coming over Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach from Irene's surge via FB friend"

This shot, uploaded by Twitter user @hollyshell, shows the state of affairs at Folly Beach, South Carolina.

Not everybody seems to be taking Hurricane Irene too seriously; here we have an avid para-sailor take full advantage of the restless waters.

Rains and waves from Hurricane Irene batter the shore in downtown Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

A couple walks in the downpour along the boardwalk in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

The downpour courtesy Hurricane Irene slows down the traffic considerably in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

New Yorkers make sandbags in preparation of the Category 3 hurricane.

A lifeguard at a New York beach waits for the storm.

Waves move onto the beach as the Hurricane Irene approaches in Nags Head, North Carolina.

Leslie Gudel posted this picture on Twitter saying, "View of Hurricane Irene moving in, this from Rocky Mount, NC, well east of Outer Banks."

Anjanette Flowers tweeted this picture saying, "Part of Oceana Pier is gone. Huge waves!"

Sarah Hutchins posted this picture on Twitter. She said, We are at Jennette's Pier. Hard to capture the extent of the waves and wind."

This picture was posted by Martha Kate on Twitter.

Chip Finch posted tweeted this picture saying, "Saturday morning high tide in Norfolk. Irene is beginning to make her presence known."

A stranded sailboat founders in the surf along the Willoughby Spit area of Norfolk, Va. as Hurricane Irene hits Norfolk, Virginia, on Saturday (Aug 27).

The live-aboard couple attempted to outrun the storm and got caught up in the high surf and wind. They were rescued by local fire and rescue personnel.

Members of Cape May Fire Department look look out at a stormy Atlantic early Saturday (Aug 27) in Cape May, New Jersey, as Hurricane Irene approaches.

Hurricane-force winds and drenching rains from Irene battered the North Carolina coast early Saturday as the storm began its potentially catastrophic run up the Eastern Seaboard.

Wind and water whip across the beach as the effects of Hurricane Irene are felt in Nags Head, North Carolina, Saturday (Aug 27).

George Pavan calls his roommates, who left for higher ground, to inform them about the conditions in their neighborhood Saturday (Aug 27) in Morehead City, North Carolina.

Hurricane Irene, a Category 1 storm, is making landfall on the North Carolina coast.

Two men use a boat to explore a street flooded by Hurricane Irene in Monteo, N.C.

People wade through a street flooded by Hurricane Irene in Manteo, North Carolina.

Hurricane Irene knocked out power and piers in North Carolina, clobbered Virginia with wind and churned up the coast Saturday to confront cities more accustomed to snowstorms than tropical storms.

Two men paddle a boat bown a streete flooded by Hurricane Irene approaches in Manteo, North Carolina.

Hurricane Irene knocked out power and piers in North Carolina, clobbered Virginia with wind and churned up the coast Saturday to confront cities more accustomed to snowstorms than tropical storms.

Utility crews work to remove downed trees, mend broken utility poles and lines on Holly Street after winds from Hurricanes Irene moved through Goldsboro, North Carolina.

Bethanne Caccivio, center, of Solomons, Maryland, hugs Tina Garrison, also of Solomons, while Garrison's boat takes on water as Hurricane Irene approaches.

A vehicle avoids a downed utility pole on Woodlawn St. as Hurricane Irene hits Greenville, North Carolina.

Thousands of residents of eastern N.C. are without power as Hurricane Irene moves through the area.

A travel trailer tipped over into a flooded area on Hwy 55 in New Bern, North Carolina.

Hurricane Irene knocked out power and piers in North Carolina, clobbered Virginia with wind and churned up the coast Saturday to confront cities more accustomed to snowstorms than tropical storms.

New York City emptied its streets and subways and waited with an eerie quiet.

Floodwaters surround this pickup truck on Hwy 55 in New Bern, North Carolina.

Hurricane Irene knocked out power and piers in North Carolina, clobbered Virginia with wind and churned up the coast Saturday to confront cities more accustomed to snowstorms than tropical storms.

New York City emptied its streets and subways and waited with an eerie quiet.

The Holland Tunnel is seen nearly deserted as rain from the outer bands of Hurricane Irene soak up the area, in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Hurricane Irene knocked out power and piers in North Carolina, clobbered Virginia with wind and churned up the coast Saturday to confront cities more accustomed to snowstorms than tropical storms.

The looming threat of Hurricane Irene did not dissuade tourists from visiting Manhattan's Times Square in New York.

Mayor Bloomberg advised all New Yorkers to prepare as the region girded for wind, rain, and flooding as the storm stood poised to bear down on an already saturated New York state.

This image, made available by the NASA/NOAA GOES Project, shows Hurricane Irene on the East Coast of the United States.

The New York City skyline is seen under clouds as Hurricane Irene approaches, Saturday (Aug 28).

Irene has the potential to cause billions of dollars in damage along a densely populated arc that includes Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Boston and beyond. At least 65 million people could be affected.

Waves crash onto a beach in Ocean City, Maryland, as Hurricane Irene heads toward the Maryland coast.