Major flooding is expected well inland across the Northeast in the wake of Irene, with several large rivers likely to remain above flood stage for days.

All-time records could even be approached on a few rivers, rivaling stages recorded during Hurricane Floyd in 1999.

Heavy rain from Irene will continue to soak millions across the eastern mid-Atlantic through today, expanding north across New England into tonight. By early Monday, Irene’s heaviest rain will have exited to the north into southeastern Canada.

Rainfall totals will continue to be excessive and impressive. Many areas from the mid-Atlantic into New England will get 3 to 6 inches of rain, with localized amounts above a foot.

Similar rainfall totals were observed on Saturday as Irene passed near eastern North Carolina and the Delmarva region.

The heavy rain is the last thing many locations across the Northeast want to see. Record rainfall has already caused flooding headaches across the region during the month of August.

While flooding along streets and in low-lying areas will be worse in the interim, river flooding will worsen in the hours and days after the rain stops falling.

(Source: AccuWeather)