Check back often for updates on Hurricane Earl and how it will affect Isle of Wight and Surry counties, straight from emergency management personnel.
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The Virginia coast remains under a hurricane warning, but tropical storm winds are more likely here, according to the National Weather Service.
At 8 a.m. Thursday, Hurricane Earl had reached sustained winds of 145 mph, making it a dangerous category four storm. It was located about 355 miles south of Cape Hatteras and is moving north-northwest at 18 mph.
A hurricane watch has been issued from the Virginia North Carolina border north to Cape Henlopen, Delaware. The Hampton Roads area is under a tropical storm warning.
A warning means that a tropical storm is expected. A watch means a hurricane could occur.
Sunny skies are expected to continue until this evening when tropical storm conditions could begin and continue through Friday morning.
In Isle of Wight, emergency officials are expecting tropical storm force winds of 20-30 miles, but only up to a half-inch of rain, said Isle of Wight County spokesman Don Robertson.
Gov. Bob McDonnell issued a state of emergency for Virginia yesterday to allow emergency agencies to respond to the storm.
The county is having another conference call with state emergency management officials at 11 a.m. So far, there have been no plans to open shelters or take other hurricane precautions. Check The Smithfield Times website for further updates throughout the storm.
More information about hurricane preparedness is available at www.ReadyVirginia.gov and www.ListoVirginia.gov. Online videos that explain storm surge, lane reversal and evacuation routes are at www.youtube.com/vaemergency.
