RICHMOND, Va. -- Virginia Governor Ralph Northam has declared a state of emergency ahead of Hurricane Isaias.
The storm is expected to impact Virginia on Monday.
"Hurricane Isaias is a serious storm, and current predictions indicate that it may impact parts of Virginia as early as this weekend,” Governor Northam said. “This state of emergency will ensure localities and communities have the assistance they need to protect the safety of Virginians, particularly as we continue to deal with the COVID-19 crisis. I encourage Virginians to take all necessary precautions, monitor local weather forecasts, and stay alert.”
Click here to read the latest Weather Authority forecast.
Isaias causes floods, slides, then grows into hurricane
Isaias knocked out power and caused flooding and small landslides across Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic on Thursday and now has strengthened into a hurricane as it begins moving into the Bahamas while heading for the U.S. East Coast. Isaias was centered about 70 miles (110 kilometers) southeast of the Bahamas late Thursday.
It had maximum sustained winds of 80 mph and was moving northwest at 18 mph. Earlier, its rains turned several streets into fast-flowing rivers and toppled trees and some telephone and electrical cables in Puerto Rico.
The National Guard rescued at least 35 people in the U.S. territory, including two newborns.
