President cuts Martha’s Vineyard vacation short ahead of Hurricane Irene

President Obama will leave Martha's Vineyard one day early because of Hurricane Irene's expected touchdown on the nation's east coast this weekend, the White House announced Friday.

The president thought it would "be more prudent for him to be in Washington, D.C., and at the White House," deputy press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters, so he and his wife and daughters will return tonight. The family had been scheduled to return to Washington tomorrow afternoon.

Earlier Friday, the president counseled the nation to heed warnings about Hurricane Irene, which he described as "an extremely dangerous and costly storm."

"I cannot stress this highly enough: If you are in the projected path of this hurricane, you have to take precautions now. Don't wait. Don't delay. We all hope for the best, but we have to be prepared for the worst."

Obama had received criticism for embarking on the 10-day vacation amid national economic turmoil. Presidents throughout history and on both sides of the aisle have long drawn rebukes for personal trips.