Hurricane Irene is forecast to hit Atlantic City early Sunday morning, as it makes its way up the coast with winds of 80 miles an hour, after sending what the governor said was a million New Jerseyans fleeing the Shore and forcing the closure of highways, airports and transit systems.

As of 5 p.m., the National Weather Service said the storm was centered about 50 miles south-southeast of Norfolk, Va., or about 340 miles south-southwest of New York City, moving at 13 miles per hour.



The path of the storm would send it cutting across the barrier islands and then over Barnegat and Toms River, before heading back out to sea and into New York.

If the hurricane makes landfall as projected, it would be the first time that had happened in New Jersey since 1903. Irene is then expected to weaken as it moves north, with winds easing to 75 miles an hour or less as it nears Delaware.

There were about 5,300 people in shelters, Christie said, including 1,200 people from Atlantic County who slept on chairs at the Sun National Bank Center in Trenton. They were fed and later transported to Rutgers University's main campus in New Brunswick, and the Mennen Sports Arena in Morristown.

The Jersey City Armory and the Izod Center in East Rutherford will be ready to accept up to 2,200 more hurricane refugees, if needed.

In Hoboken, residents were asked to leave voluntarily; those with basement apartments were ordered to evacuate.

The American Red Cross was telling people that they had limited space and supplies in shelters. So, after days of officials urging people to leave coastal areas, the Red Cross was asking those who remained to consider staying put.

Rowan University in Glassboro scrapped plans for move-in day for first year students and instead welcomed 1,084 evacuees, largely from Atlantic City. Students already on campus — most of them athletes — were told to go home. Some of those who could not get out joined a corps of volunteers, playing soccer with kids, unfolding cots and serving sandwiches.

Public transportation came to a halt by midday, as trains stopped running and incoming flights were suspended at the New York area airports, including Newark Liberty.

Atlantic City casinos were closed for only the third time since gaming began there in 1978. The only other times it happened was for Hurricane Gloria in 1985 and a state government shutdown five years ago.

Supermarkets were making it easy, putting bottled water at the front of the store — if they still had any. They were facing runs on provisions like potato chips.

And some people tried to make the most of their evacuation.

Terry Geck of Galloway, near Atlantic City, hit the road at 6 a.m. with his wife, 12-year-old daughter, dog Roxie and bunny Pewter and drove roughly 300 miles to Ithaca in upstate New York for a two-night stay.

"They said we might get as much as 15 inches of rain. I said, ‘No, not happening,"’ Geck said.

At least three deaths were directly caused by the storm. In Nash County, N.C., emergency officials said a man was crushed by a large limb that blew off a tree. In Newport News, Va., a city spokeswoman said an 11-year-old boy was killed when Irene's winds sent a tree crashing through his apartment building. Winds had been gusting well above 60 mph in the area. Also in Virginia, someone was killed when a tree fell onto a car.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

⇒ LATEST HURRICANE IRENE NEWS

⇒ FULL STORM UPDATE

⇒ TOWN EVACUATION LIST

Hurricane Irene photos by NJ.com users 27 Gallery: Hurricane Irene photos by NJ.com users

More Hurricane Irene Coverage:

⇒ Hurricane Irene: Latest N.J. update - 4 p.m. Saturday

⇒ Hurricane Irene helping N.J. liquor stores, as residents plan 'hurricane parties'

⇒ Sea Bright businesses, Highlands residents prepare for Hurricane Irene's arrival

⇒ • Across N.J. National Guard awaits call of action against Hurricane Irene

⇒ HURRICANE SURVIVAL GUIDE

⇒ QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ABOUT THE STORM

⇒ TWITTER FEEDS ABOUT THE STORM

⇒ HURRICANE IRENE VIDEOS

⇒ HURRICANE IRENE PHOTOS