Hanna's impact on Virginia: 23,000+ without power, Portsmouth port closed

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Updated 10:49 a.m.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Thousands lost power as Tropical Storm Hanna moved through Virginia.

More than 23,000 customers of Dominion Virginia Power, most of them in the southeastern part of the state, lost electricity as the storm moved north through the state on Saturday morning.

State police closed all lanes of Interstate 95 just north of Richmond for a short time after power lines fell around 8:30 a.m. Traffic was detoured to nearby highways.

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Updated 9:53 a.m.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) - The Coast Guard has closed Virginia's port because of Tropical Storm Hanna.
The guard declared Port Condition Zulu at 7 a.m. Saturday, closing the Portsmouth shipping center to all vessels.
The area under the closure includes all navigable waters of the Port of Hampton Roads, the lower Maryland Eastern Shore and the Port of Richmond, on the James River.
The Coast Guard said winds along Virginia coastal waters are likely to top 50 mph.

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Updated 9:46 a.m.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Thousands lost power as Tropical Storm Hanna moved through Virginia.
More than 20,000 customers of Dominion Virginia Power, most of them in the southeastern part of the state, had lost electricity as the storm moved north through the state on Saturday morning.
State police closed all lanes of Interstate 95 just north of Richmond in Hanover County, just north of the Atlee-Elmont exit. Power lines fell around 8:30 a.m. Traffic was being detoured to nearby highways.

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Updated 7:52 a.m.

Tropical Storm Hanna made landfall at 3:20 a.m. today at the North-South Carolina border, starting a run up the Eastern Seaboard that's expected to dump heavy rain today and tomorrow from Virginia to New England.

As of shortly after 7 a.m., the Richmond region was experiencing rain and steady winds of 15 mph to 20 mph, with gusts of up to 25 mph, the National Weather Service said.

Meteorologist Mike Rusnak predicted that wind speeds would rise to 20 mph to 30 mph, with gusts of up to 40 mph, by about 10 a.m.

He expected an average of 2 inches to 4 inches of rain across central Virginia, with some areas getting as much as 8 inches today.

"Our typical low-lying areas will be under the gun for minor flooding," Rusnak said.

He said the steady rain should taper off by about 4 p.m., with scattered showers for a couple hours after that. The storm should be over for the Richmond area by 9 or 10 p.m.

Emergency officials are already looking past Hanna to powerful Hurricane Ike, several hundred miles out in the Atlantic. Ike, packing Category 3 hurricane winds of near 115 mph, could approach southern Florida by Monday as Hanna spins away from Canada over the North Atlantic.

Hanna's first rains in Richmond began late yesterday afternoon. The first victims were NASCAR fans, as officials postponed last night's Nationwide Series and today's Sprint Cup race. Both will be run tomorrow.

The biggest threats appear to be rain in this area, and wind in eastern Virginia. The storm could cause blackouts and flash floods and, near the coast, possible tornadoes and some tidal flooding.

Northern Virginia could get 4 to 8 inches of rain, said Andy Woodcock, a meteorologist with the Weather Service's Washington-Baltimore office.

The rain would be heavier there in part because that region is closer to the Blue Ridge, Woodcock said. Winds from the storm can hit the mountains and shoot up higher, increasing the chance of moisture condensing to raindrops.

President Bush called the governors of South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia yesterday to discuss preparations for Hanna, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.

Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine declared a state of emergency Thursday, freeing up extra state workers to respond to problems.

Hurricane Ike, heading last night toward the Bahamas, could pose a bigger problem. It weakened yesterday but still produced 115 mph winds. Montefusco, of the Weather Service, said it's too early to forecast its effect on Virginia.

At the Virginia Beach oceanfront yesterday and today, surfers rode the big waves generated from long range by the approaching storm.

Farther south in the city, roughly 100 Navy fighter jets flew from their base at Oceana Naval Air Station to get out of the storm's path.

Chesterfield County Public Schools have canceled all activities today and tomorrow because of the weather. That includes parks-and-recreation activities and church services held in schools.

Amtrak has canceled all its train service through Richmond and eastern Virginia today, while Greyhound is halting its buses between Richmond and Myrtle Beach, S.C. today.

Meanwhile, Richmond International Airport is advising people who are planning on taking or meeting airline flights to check their flight's status before going to the airport today.

"Obviously we're going to have some impact from it," said airport spokesman Troy Bell.

The Virginia Department of Transportation warned motorists not to drive over flooded roads, which may be washed out.

Staff writers Peter Bacque, Randy Hallman, Bill Geroux, Melodie Martin, Holly Prestidge and Neil Simon contributed to this report.

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6:02 a.m.

Tropical Storm Hanna should make this a long, wet, windy day, with the worst likely coming between dawn and noon, forecasters say.

"While not historic, it will be a significant storm for central Virginia," said National Weather service meteorologist Mike Montefusco.

The bad weather could last well into tonight, said James Conrad, a meteorologist with Weather Central Inc., a private service in Madison, Wis.

"It's an all-day washout," Conrad said. After about mid-day, however, "It'll get better slowly
9/5/08 5:06 PM
on inRich.com throughout the day."

The first rains in Richmond began late yesterday afternoon. The first victims were NASCAR fans, as officials postponed last night's Nationwide Series and today's Sprint Cup race. Both will be run tomorrow.

The biggest threats appear to be rain in this area, and wind in eastern Virginia. The storm could cause blackouts and flash floods and, near the coast, possible tornadoes and some tidal flooding.

Hanna could dump 3 to 5 inches of rain in this region and 2 to 4 inches in southeastern Virginia, the Weather Service said. The rainfall could be greater in spots.

The storm could produce winds of 15 to 25 mph locally, gusting to 40 mph, and 30 to 40 mph in Hampton Roads, gusting up to 60 mph.

Northern Virginia could get 4 to 8 inches of rain, said Andy Woodcock, a meteorologist with the Weather Service's Washington-Baltimore office.

Hanna, with 70 mph winds, was approaching the South Carolina-North Carolina border last night. It was projected to come ashore late last night or early today and weaken somewhat over land.

Early this afternoon, the storm's center should be moving northeast through Virginia between Richmond and Hampton Roads at about 30 mph, Conrad said.

"It's not going to sit over you . . . dumping rain," he said.