STORM

Hurricane Irene gained strength Monday morning and is heading toward Florida after pounding Puerto Rico. Heavy rain, flooding and mudslides are possible in the Caribbean before the storm is forecast to track through parts of the Bahamas from late Tuesday night through early Friday morning. Then, the storm is likely to hit Florida, possibly impacting the state with heavy rains and damaging winds for a couple of days.

Irene is a category 1 hurricane.

The deathtoll at a Belgian pop festival struck by a fierce storm that knocked down screens and tents has been cut to four from five, officials said on Monday.

In 1900, the Great Galveston Hurricane in Texas killed up to 12,000 people.

The death toll at a Belgian pop festival struck by a fierce storm that knocked down screens and tents has been cut to four from five, officials said on Monday.

Hurricane Irene has become the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, and it's tracking toward a Florida strike as a possible Category 2 storm. Forecast models are always changing, based upon timing, but if Irene stays on its current course, Florida could be in for days of damaging wind and rain. Here is why Hurricane Irene could be one of the worst to strike Florida in years.

Here is a brief rundown of important events around the world Monday morning, August 22, 2011.

Hurricane Irene is only skirting the northern coast of Hispaniola early Monday but the storm is heading toward the U.S. East Coast, where it could strike Florida on Wednesday night and Thursday. Forecast models show the entire state of Florida is at risk of days of heavy damaging winds and rain through Saturday.

A severe tornado struck the southwestern Ontario town of Goderich causing widespread destruction and killing one person.

Pope Benedict urged 1.5 million young Catholics at a Sunday mass in an aerodrome to spread the gospel to others on the last day of a four-day visit to the Spanish capital marked by violent protests.

Residents in Florida should be keeping a close eye on Tropical Storm Irene, as it could strengthen into a hurricane and possible hit the state on Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center, which also said the storm's path is uncertain.

Tropical Storm Irene barreled across the Caribbean toward Puerto Rico on Sunday on a course that could take it to Florida.

The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for portions of central and western Massachusetts as well as northern Connecticut and southern New Hampshire. The warning will be in effect from nine p.m. Sunday.

A hurricane warning for Tropical Storm Irene was issued for the southern coast of the Dominican Republic as well as Puerto Rico, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

A hurricane warning for Tropical Storm Irene was issued for the southern coast of the Dominican Republic as well as Puerto Rico, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Tropical Storm Irene formed east of the Leeward Islands on Saturday and was expected to become a hurricane in the next two days heading on a northwestward track through the Caribbean that may threaten Florida.

A torrential rainstorm forced Pope Benedict to abandon a speech to hundreds of thousands of young people gathered at an aerodrome outside Madrid on Saturday.

A freak flash flood caused by heavy rainfall in Pittsburgh, killed at least four people.The body of the possible fourth victim has been found, authorities said on Saturday. The heavy deluge overwhelmed the city's sewer system during rush hour, submerging dozens of vehicles along a street near the Allegheny River.

Tropical Storm Irene, which is the ninth storm for the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season, formed on Saturday east of the Caribbean's Leeward Islands.

Verizon and two striking unions agreed to talk after a two-week strike. Here's why.

By listening and monitoring sound waves around 37,000 miles above the surface of the sun, it is now possible to predict the appearance of sunspots almost 2 days before hand.