The fearsome Category 4 storm slowed almost to a standstill as it shredded roofs, hurled cars and forced even rescue crews to take shelter until the onslaught passed.

Along Florida's east coast, local governments began distributing sandbags, shoppers rushed to stock up on food, plywood and other emergency supplies at supermarkets and hardware stores, and motorists topped off their tanks and filled gasoline cans.

Florida residents picked the shelves clean of bottled water and lined up at gas stations Thursday as an increasingly menacing-looking Hurricane Dorian threatened to broadside the state over Labor Day weekend.

In the next four days, Dorian's winds could top 100 mph, the National Hurricane Center says.

Parts of the Mississippi have been above flood stage for months. All of the Great Lakes are at or near record-high levels. It's halting barge traffic, damaging infrastructure and eroding shorelines.

Record-breaking heat tests the limits of city resources and threatens the health of vulnerable residents. Studies suggest it could become the new normal.

Through two tornadoes, power outages, downed trees and a community in crisis, the Cape Playhouse stuck to an old adage — the show must go on.

The National Weather Service says the tornado struck the Massachusetts resort area just after noon Tuesday.

As of 11 a.m. ET Friday, Barry's maximum sustained winds had strengthened to nearly 65 mph, according to Hurricane Hunter aircraft.

"No one should take this storm lightly," Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards says. If it forms as expected, the storm would be labeled Tropical Storm Barry.