Governor says 200,000 under evacuation orders

6 p.m.

NORFOLK -- Nearly 200,000 Virginians are under mandatory evacuation orders as Hurricane Irene approaches, Gov. Bob McDonnell said this evening.

About 80,000 of those are in Norfolk, or roughly one-third of the city’s population, the governor said. Another 60,000 people are in Virginia Beach and about 50,000 in the Poquoson area.

“A lot of other people have heeded the voluntary evacuation warnings,” McDonnell said, adding that 300,000 people or more may be evacuating homes in Hampton Roads.

“There are a lot of people doing the right thing and leaving town," he said.

After McDonnell's Norfolk appearance, a spokesman was asked to comment on a report that Irene, while still a danger, may be weakening and not pose the historic threat earlier described by the governor.

"Irene is a large and significant storm. This is no time for anyone to let their guard down. All Virginians should continue to closely monitor this very dangerous hurricane and rush their preparations to completion prior to the storms arrival," said Tucker Martin.

The governor earlier today said that Irene bode to be the storm of a "lifetime" for many people, and warned that southeastern Virginia residents who were under evacuation orders or otherwise seeking shelter had to do so today or risk becoming isolated when roads and bridges closed because of high winds and water on Saturday.

The latest forecast is “great news, but there are still some concerns,” said Jeff Orrock, a weather service meteorologist. But, Orrock said, “She's still a big system... It's not anything to slough off.”

Rainfall remains a big concern, and southeastern Virginia could still see “substantial flooding,” Orrock said.

The forecast calls for 8 to 12 inches of rain in southeastern Virginia and 4 to 6 inches in Richmond.

But Irene, which some observers said could be worse than 2003’s deadly Hurricane Isabel, no longer looks like a historic storm, Orrock said.

Irene should be a weak Category 1 hurricane, not a Category 2 as previously forecast, when it passes just off the Virginia coast Saturday night, Orrock said.

It should produce winds of 50 to 70 mph, with gusts up to 80 mph, in southeastern Virginia. Winds are projected to be in the 30s, with gusts in the 40s, in the Richmond area.

(Reed Williams reported from Norfolk; Olympia Meola and Rex Springston reported from Richmond.)

(This has been a breaking news update. Check back for more details as they become available. Earlier updates are posted below, as well as today's story from the Richmond Times-Dispatch.)

5:40 p.m.

A spokesman for Gov. Bob McDonnell says this evening that despite an improved forecast, Virginians should not let down their guard over Hurricane Irene.

"Irene is a large and significant storm. This is no time for anyone to let their guard down. All Virginians should continue to closely monitor this very dangerous hurricane and rush their preparations to completion prior to the storms arrival," said Tucker Martin.

The governor earlier today said that Irene bode to be the storm of a "lifetime" for many people, and said that southeastern Virginia residents who were under evacuation orders or otherwise seeking shelter had to do so today or risk becoming isolated when roads and bridges closed because of high winds and water on Saturday.

Since his statement a National Weather Service forecaster has said the storm appears to be weakening, but that concerns remain.

-- Olympia Meola

(This has been a breaking news update. Check back for more details as they become available. Earlier updates are posted below, as well as today's story from the Richmond Times-Dispatch.)

 4:45 p.m.

Hurricane Irene is weakening this afternoon and poses less of a threat to Virginia, the National Weather Service said.

The latest forecast comes on the heels of Gov. Bob McDonnell warning that an earlier prediction signified the hurricane could be the storm of a lifetime for many people.

“It's great news, but there are still some concerns,” said Jeff Orrock, a weather service meteorologist. But, Orrock said, “She's still a big system... It's not anything to slough off.”

Rainfall remains a big concern, and southeastern Virginia could still see “substantial flooding,” Orrock said.

The forecast calls for 8 to 12 inches of rain in southeastern Virginia and 4 to 6 inches in Richmond.

But Irene, which some observers said could be worse than 2003’s deadly Hurricane Isabel, no longer looks like a historic storm, Orrock said.

Irene should be a weak Category 1 hurricane, not a Category 2 as previously forecast, when it passes just off the Virginia coast Saturday night, Orrock said.

It should produce winds of 50 to 70 mph, with gusts up to 80 mph, in southeastern Virginia. Winds are projected to be in the 30s, with gusts in the 40s, in the Richmond area.

-- Rex Springston

 (This has been a breaking news update. Check back for more details as they become available. Earlier updates are posted below, as well as today's story from the Richmond Times-Dispatch.)

2:45 p.m.

Gov. Bob McDonnell warned southeast Virginia residents who are being evacuated or otherwise plan to leave ahead of Hurricane Irene that they need to do so today or risk being isolated and exposed to dangerous weather conditions.

McDonnell said Secretary of Health and Human Resources Bill Hazel has worked with health care officials and hospitals in the eastern part of the state to discuss emergency management plans.

“Possible mass casualty situations will have to be dealt with and they are ready,” he told reporters in a briefing at the Patrick Henry Building.

"For most it will be the most significant weather event for their lifetime... It's a dangerous storm," McDonnell said

McDonnell said bridges and roads will begin to close in tropical storm winds, which are categorized as being between 39 and 73 mph.

"So it's very important for all of our friends in southeast Virginia to realize if they're going to go somewhere else they need to do it now," he said.

Up to 1 million Virginians will feel hurricane force winds, McDonnell told reporters.

He said residents can expect widespread power outages that could last for days. He said the storm's effects could be equal to or worse than Hurricane Isabel in 2003.

(This has been a breaking news update. Check back for more details as they become available. Earlier updates are posted below, as well as today's story from the Richmond Times-Dispatch.)

2:05 p.m.

Gov. Bob McDonnell warned southeast Virginia residents who are being evacuated or otherwise plan to leave ahead of Hurricane Irene that they need to do so today or risk being left behind when bridges and roads close because of high winds.

McDonnell said bridges and roads will begin to close in tropical storm winds, which are categorized as being between 39 and 73 mph.

"So it's very important for all of our friends in southeast Virginia to realize if they're going to go somewhere else they need to do it now," he said in a briefing at the Patrick Henry Building.

Up to 1 million Virginians will feel hurricane force winds, McDonnell told reporters.

He said residents can expect widespread power outages that could last for days. He said the storm's effects could be equal to or worse and Hurricane Isabel in 2003.

(This has been a breaking news update. Check back for more details as they become available. Earlier updates are posted below, as well as today's story from the Richmond Times-Dispatch.)

1:55 p.m.

At least 10 localities in Virginia have ordered residents and visitors to leave as Hurricane Irene approaches.

Mandatory evacuations are in effect for all of Accomack County and the city of Poquoson.

Hampton, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach and the counties of Mathews and Middlesex have ordered evacuations of low-lying areas.

Three campgrounds and the YMCA camp in Northampton County have been ordered to evacuate. A voluntary evacuation has been issued for other areas.

Chincoteague has ordered all non-residents to leave. A voluntary evacuation is in effect for residents.

--AP

(This has been a breaking news update. Check back for more details as they become available. Earlier updates are posted below, as well as today's story from the Richmond Times-Dispatch.)

1:35 p.m.

Gov. Bob McDonnell this afternoon urged residents planning to evacuate in advance of Hurricane Irene to do so today and not wait for tomorrow.

Up to 1 million Virginians will feel hurricane force winds, McDonnell told reporters this afternoon.

He said residents can expect widespread power outages that could last for days. He said the storm's effects could be equal to or worse and Hurricane Isabel in 2003.

A number of low-lying areas in Hampton Roads and eastern Virginia are ordering evacuations. None are currently expected in the Richmond area.

(This has been a breaking news update. Check back for more details as they become available from the governor's news briefing.)

--Olympia Meola

12:40 p.m.

People in the eastern third of Virginia should stay off the roads and in a safe place much of Saturday and part of Sunday, officials say.

Hurricane Irene should be at its peak strength in southeastern Virginia from about midday Saturday to early Sunday and in the Richmond area from Saturday afternoon to Saturday night.

"Unless something significant and unexpected changes, this is probably going to be a memorable storm, especially for southeastern Virginia," said Andrew Zimmerman, a National Weather Service meteorologist.

Irene should hit southeastern Virginia with hurricane-force winds of 75 to 80 mph and up to 10 inches of rain.

The Richmond area could get 3 to 5 inches of rain and winds of 35 to 40 mph. Gusts in both regions could go higher.

The storm should be over for most of Virginia by midday Sunday, Zimmerman said. The Eastern Shore could see high winds into Sunday afternoon.

--Rex Springston

(This has been a breaking news update. Check back for more details as they become available. Earlier updates are posted below, as well as today's story from the Richmond Times-Dispatch.)

11:45 a.m.

Time is running out for people to make their hurricane plans and pack kits with food, water, important documents and other items, emergency officials said today.

Experts are advising people to prepare to be on their own, without power, for at least three days.

"The window of preparation is quickly closing," said Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano during a telephone news conference.

National Hurricane Center Director Bill Read called Irene a "serious hurricane" that could pose problems particularly for flood-prone southeastern Virginia.

"We're going to have coastal issues as well as inland issues," he said.

In Newport News, a notice posted this morning on the city's website says a mandatory evacuation is in effect for areas that would flood in a Category 1 hurricane. They include City Line Apartments and the Salters Creek area. Residents have been told to evacuate by 5 p.m.

Public safety officials plan to go door to door in the affected areas to notify residents.

--Rex Springston, AP

(This has been a breaking news update. Check back for more details as they become available. Earlier updates are posted below, as well as today's story from the Richmond Times-Dispatch.)

10:10 a.m.

Forecasters this morning now say the center of Hurricane Irene should pass just off the Virginia Beach coast Saturday night as a Category 2 storm, with winds of 96 to 110 mph.

"It's right, right off the coast," within maybe 20 miles, said Andrew Zimmerman, a National Weather Service meteorologist.

Irene should be at its peak strength in southeastern Virginia from about midday Saturday to early Sunday and in the Richmond area from Saturday afternoon to Saturday night.

(This has been a breaking news update. Check back for more details as they become available. Earlier updates are posted below, as well as today's story from the Richmond Times-Dispatch.)

8:40 a.m.

Hurricane Irene is continuing its path up the East Coast as a sprawling Category 2 storm with the potential to wreak havoc with winds and flooding on coastal North Carolina and southeastern Virginia, the National Weather Service said this morning.

Though Irene weakened slightly and shifted a bit to the east, a forecaster said it remained a dangerous storm for coastal areas and south Hampton Roads. A tropical storm warning was issued for the Richmond metropolitan area and northward toward the Potomac River basin, while hurricane warnings were in effect on from the North Carolina-Virginia line to Sandy Hook, N.J., including the Delaware Bay and the Chesapeake Bay south of Smith Point.

Among other threats, the weather service said, Irene could produce rainfall of 6 to 10 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches from eastern North Carolina into southeastern Virginia. Lesser amounts would be expected in the Richmond area, depending on how far off the storm passed off the coast.

Forecasters warned that hurricane force winds are extending 90 miles from the storm's center and tropical-storm level winds can be felt nearly 300 miles away.

--Staff reports.

(This has been a breaking news update. Check back for more details as they become available. Earlier updates are posted below, as well as today's story from the Richmond Times-Dispatch.)

7:30 a.m.

Hurricane Irene's main thrust was still a day away from North Carolina but heightened waves began hitting the state's Outer Banks early today.

Swells from Irene and 6 to 9-foot waves were showing up and winds were expected to begin picking up later in the day, Hal Austin, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Irene weakened slightly to Category 2 but its strength is expected to reintensify.

--AP

(This has been a breaking news update. Check back for more details as they become available. Earlier updates are posted below, as well as today's story from the Richmond Times-Dispatch.)

6:15 a.m.

Hurricane Irene weakened slightly this morning as it moved up the East Coast but forecasters extended the warning area to New Jersey and said the storm would reintensify as it continued on a path that could bring severe weather conditions to coastal Virginia and North Carolina.

Moving about 14 mph, Irene was expected to pass well off the coast of northeastern Florida today and be between a Category 2 and Category 3 storm as it approaches the North Carolina coast Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

In North Carolina, meantime,  the weather service said heightened waves and swells have starting hitting the the Atlantic coast. Meteorologist Hal Austin said North Carolina's Outer Banks have started seeing six to nine-foot waves early today.

Irene is a huge storm with winds most recently clocked at nearly 110 mph. Hurricane-force winds are extending up to 90 miles from the center, which could spell problems for inland areas.

Irene continues on a track bringing it closer to Virginia than storms in previous years, carrying the threat of major damage in Hampton Roads and the Eastern Shore. The path of the storm shifted slightly east overnight, but the weather service said it was not enough of a change for the agency to alter its guidance about the storm.

The weather service said the hurricane watch from the North Carolina-Virginia line to Sandy Hook, N.J., including the Delaware Bay and the Chesapeake Bay south of Smith Point has been changed to the more imminent category of warning. And a tropical storm watch for the Chesapeake Bay north of Smith Point and the tidal Potomac area, a region that includes the Richmond area, has been changed to a warning.

-- Staff reports

(This has been a breaking news update. Check back for more details as they become available. This morning's story from the Richmond Times-Dispatch is posted below.)

Hurricane Irene could pound Virginia from Richmond to the coast with torrential rains, stiff winds and surging floodwaters this weekend, forecasters said Thursday.

Experts predicted downed trees, blackouts, coastal flooding and wind damage such as roofs being torn off.

"It's important that everyone understand that Hurricane Irene is a very dangerous storm," Gov. Bob McDonnell said.

McDonnell declared a state of emergency, making help from Virginia readily available to localities.

"I encourage all Virginians to gather items they may need this weekend in case of power outages and disruptions in public services and to make sure their family members and friends are also prepared for this storm," he said.

Computerized storm models, or simulations, since late Thursday have moved Irene closer to Virginia, said Jerry Stenger, director of the University of Virginia's climatology office.

"This is not a welcome trend," Stenger said. "It looks quite likely that we are going to have a very destructive hurricane here — one that will cause a lot of damage and a great deal of disruption."

Irene probably would reach Virginia as a Category 2 hurricane, with winds of 96 to 110 mph, National Weather Service meteorologist James Fosters said.

Eastern Virginia should see rain tonight, but the heaviest rain and wind, in Richmond and to the east, should hit Saturday afternoon and night, Foster said. The storm should continue overnight and leave Virginia by Sunday afternoon or night.

Irene could wallop southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore with hurricane-force winds of 75 to 80 mph and up to 10 inches of rain, Foster said.

The Richmond area could get 3 to 4 inches of rain and winds of 35 to 40 mph. Winds in both places could gust higher.

The weather service issued a hurricane watch Thursday for coastal Virginia and localities as far inland as Isle of Wight County.

David Tolleris, a private forecaster in Chester, said the storm could be a serious problem for Richmond but potentially catastrophic in coastal areas. Irene could be the worst hurricane in Hampton Roads in decades, he said.

Tolleris, McDonnell and others cautioned that forecasts could change and Irene could shift eastward. "God knows I want that to happen," Tolleris said.

Irene should push up coastal water levels just as the high tide rolls in Saturday about 9 p.m., said Larry P. Atkinson, an Old Dominion University oceanographer. "The timing couldn't be worse," he said.

Irene is projected to cause a 7-foot storm surge, about 4 feet higher than the normal high tide, Atkinson said.

That's serious and could cause major flooding, but it's nearly a foot lower than the storm surge from Hurricane Isabel in 2003, Atkinson said.

McDonnell authorized localities to issue mandatory evacuation orders if necessary. He said the state does not plan to reverse eastbound lanes on Interstate 64. He asked residents to review evacuation routes for their areas.

In North Carolina, officials issued evacuation orders Thursday for hundreds of thousands of tourists and locals in the Outer Banks and other areas.

Irene pounded the Bahamas on Thursday. It was expected to pass well off the Florida coast early today and go ashore in North Carolina on Saturday with winds around 115 mph.

Forecasters predict it will then move up the East Coast, dumping rain from Virginia to New York before a weakened form trudges through New England.

"This will not be just a coastal storm," said Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate. "We could see effects well inland."

Amtrak canceled some train service for today, Saturday and Sunday operating south of Washington, including a number of trains serving Richmond.

Dominion Virginia Power was readying repair crews Thursday.

"This storm has serious potential to cause widespread damage," said Rodney Blevins, a Dominion vice president.