Map courtesy NOAA.

I know that it got kind of buried yesterday, what with the earthquake hogging all the headlines — but there’s still a hurricane that’s on path to affect the region this weekend.

Hurricane Irene’s forecasted path has drifted slightly eastward since yesterday afternoon, meaning that the chances of it making actual landfall near us and creating rainfalls of over a foot has diminished somewhat — though it is possible that the currently strengthening storm could still cause flooding around the region over the weekend.

Organizers of this Sunday’s dedication Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial remain confident that they’ll still be able to host the ceremony and tens of thousands of people on Sunday, hurricane be damned.

“Know there is a lot of worry about this weekend’s weather,” read a note on the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Foundation’s Facebook page. “We’re planning to proceed rain or shine – we’re waiting and watching and hoping for good weather.”

Organizers have, however, moved the first event of the official Dedication Week — tonight’s Honoring Global Leaders for Peace International Salute Gala — from the National Building Museum to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.