Will Hurricane Irene Hit Virginia?

Gov. Bob McDonnell has declared a state of emergency in anticipation of Hurricane Irene. 

The Commonwealth has activated the Virginia Evacuation Coordination Team for Operational Response to assess the storm’s potential impact and to take necessary actions. 

• The Virginia Emergency Operations Center is coordinating the state’s response with increased staffing available 24 hours a day and is now at Response Condition, due to Tuesday’s earthquake.
• Virginia State Police personnel have been placed on stand-by and will be pre-positioned to the areas where they will be needed based on the final projected path of the hurricane.  The Virginia State Police Swift Water Rescue Team is standing by in strategic locations.
• Chainsaw crews from the Virginia Department of Forestry are standing by with emergency response personnel and to help with debris removal.
• Virginia Department of Transportation crews are ready to clear roads and ensure roads are safe for travel.
• The Virginia National Guard has been authorized to bring personnel on state active duty and begin prepositioning resources.
• The Virginia Department of Health is coordinating with hospitals and long-term care facilities to ensure that they are prepared for storm impacts. 

Original Post: 

Hurricane Irene could ramp up to a Category 4 storm in the next 24 hours, with winds topping 135 miles per hour, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, but it's still uncertain what impact it will have on Northern Virginia.

Category 4 winds fall between 131 to 155 miles per hour.

The storm's projected path has turned steadily to the east throughout the past 24 hours. NHC models show a track over or very close to the mid-Atlantic. The National Weather Service predicts an 80 percent chance of rain in Northern Virginia Saturday night with wind gusts on Sunday.

Residents can get emergency alerts from the county specific to flooding, severe thunderstorm notifications and other emergency messages. 

The storm, upgraded to a Category 3 hurricane overnight, is expected to continue picking up speed and strength today as it turns toward the East Coast, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Although its path could change at any time, forecasters are tentatively saying today that after powering to a possible Category 4, they expect it to slow to a Category 2 by the weekend, with most rain and wind taking place on Virginia's coastal areas as it moves north.

“Irene’s path is not certain, and a small change in the track could bring different impacts,” said Michael Cline, state coordinator for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, in a news release.  “Virginia state agencies are getting ready for the storm, and so should residents.” 

Cline said Virginians should pay close attention to the storm, find out if they are at risk for storm surge and review their evacuation, shelter and pet plans, he said, noting:

• Irene is a large, wide storm, and residents should pay attention to the extent of the storm, not the path or location of the eye.
• There are no evacuation orders in effect for any part of Virginia, and there are no plans for a regional evacuation.  

Dominion Power spokeswoman Le-Ha Anderson said the company isn't waiting around until the last minute to see what happens. "We have a team of meteorologists tracking the storm," she said. "Our crews are prepared and our contractors are ready."

Dominion Power offers these tips to prepare if the hurricane's path makes for more menacing weather for Northern Virginia.

Meanwhile, Irene lumbered into the Bahamas at 9 mph Tuesday night and is expected to clear the islands Thursday before taking a turn toward the north, according to the National Hurricane Center. 

As of 8 p.m. Wednesday, the storm center was located 185 miles southeast of Nassau, Bahamas, or about 810 miles south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, moving northwest at 12 mph. 

If the storm weakens, the National Hurricane Center said it will still remain a large and powerful hurricane for the next five days.

Patch Associate Regional Editor Emily Seawell of South Florida contributed to this report.