A flash flood watch is in effect for Virginia through Saturday night.
The National Weather Service says rain will become widespread and increase in intensity over saturated ground, increasing the risk of landslides.
Rainfall amounts are expected to total 2 to 5 inches in some places. And that's well before any possible impacts from Hurricane Joaquin moving up the East Coast.
A gale warning also has been posted for coastal areas.
Gov. Terry McAuliffe says Virginia "dodged a bullet" with Hurricane Joaquin.
McAuliffe expressed relief Friday on a WTOP Radio show about the hurricane's current trajectory to veer out to sea. He added that the state is ready to handle the expected torrential rains over the coming days.
The governor declared a state of emergency earlier this week when there was a stronger possibility that Joaquin would slam Virginia's coast.
As of 5:00 p.m. Friday, Dominion Virginia Power is reporting some 2500 power outages in the greater Richmond area.
Also, there are more than 4000 outages in southeastern Virginia right now, where coastal flooding is widespread.
Dominion says despite Hurricane Joaquin’s track out to sea, electric customers should remain vigilant-- with high winds and drenching rain still in the forecast.
Meantime, American Electric Power is reporting about 100 outages in the Giles County area.
Friday, 9:00 AM
According to the National Hurricane Center from the National Weather Service, it looks like Hurricane Joaquin will veer further east, and avoid landfall on the East Coast.
Significant rainfall is still expected throughout the region.
Thursday, 4:45 PM:
Most of Virginia is under a flash flood watch, from Friday morning through Saturday evening. 2 to possibly 6 inches of rain are expected to fall on already-saturated ground. Small streams and poor drainage areas could see rapid water rises, while mudslides are possible along steep terrain. The watch area excludes far southwestern Virginia.
Weather Blogger Kevin Myatt with the Roanoke Times says this multi-day, multiple-inch rain even is happening with or without Hurricane Joaquin.
From VDOT:
VDOT is providing driving tips to help Virginians navigate through the deluge of rainfall more safely. The agency warns that motorists should expect downed trees and limbs and road flooding—but that conditions can also get worse quickly and unexpectedly.
Virginians are advised to LIMIT their travel. But if they must go out, they should first call 5-1-1 to find out local road conditions. They should also drive more SLOWLY than normal—and be prepared to slow or stop quickly WITHOUT warning.
Drivers should anticipate wind gusts and keep a firm grip on the wheel. They should also be aware of large vehicles such as tractor trailers, which are more susceptible to high winds and may not stay in their lanes.
In addition, motorists should turn around and never drive through water flowing across a road. They also should not try to move a downed power line.
25,000 VDOT crews and contractors are prepared to clear roads from expected heavy rains, fallen trees and other debris. Additional debris removal and tree crews are on standby.
Governor McAuliffe declares a State of Emergency
Ahead of this weekend’s forecasted heavy rains and the potential landfall of Hurricane Joaquin, Governor
Terry McAuliffe has declared that Virginia is in a state of emergency. He says the state does anticipate flooding in the next 36 hours – especially in the wake of Tuesday’s heavy rainfall – and was confident in the Commonwealth’s preparedness.
“We have been preparing for this for 20 months. We have our teams in place. We are ready to deal with any situation. We are leaning into these events – that is why we have moved aggressively and quickly to prepare for any type of activity here in the commonwealth of Virginia.”
Virginia’s Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian Moran says emergency personnel also have plans in place:
“In response, the Virginia State Police have declared that all personnel are on non-restrictive status. This allows all available troopers to be available if necessary. They have also staged their swift-water rescue teams in the necessary locations.”
Moran also says that 800 National Guardsmen have been deployed throughout the state.