Hurricane Irene hit New York late Saturday, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said as rain and stronger winds began to lash the city.

"The edge of the hurricane is finally upon us," he told a press conference.

Bloomberg said that with mandatory evacuation orders handed to some 370,000 people in low-lying neighborhoods and public transport completely shut down, "the time for evacuations is over."

"At this point, if you haven't evacuated, our suggestion is you stay where you are."

"The bottom line is the storm is now starting to hit New York City," he said. "Nature is a lot stronger than the rest of us."