HURRICANE WARNING EXTENDED

Now we are starting to get specifics:

The center early on Wednesday extended a hurricane warning, alerting residents to hurricane conditions within 24 hours, for the coast from Cape Fear in North Carolina north to Chincoteague in Virginia, including the Chesapeake Bay south of Smith Point. A hurricane watch, meaning possible hurricane conditions in 36 hours, was in effect north of Smith Point and the tidal Potomac.

Category 2 storms can badly damage mobile homes, fell trees and damage roofs, doors and windows. Forecasters said Isabel could dump up to 10 inches (25 cm) of rain.

The U.S. Navy sent 40 ships and submarines from Hampton Roads, Virginia, out to sea to ride out the storm. Warplanes were moved from several bases to safety inland and the Navy asked 130,000 active duty personnel to leave the Norfolk, Virginia, area. At 8 a.m. EDT Wednesday, Isabel’s center was 425 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, at latitude 29.7 north and longitude 72.4 west. It was heading north-northwest at 9 mph.

10 inches of rain?! Yeppers, that’s enough to flood the Rappahannock River Basin. I don’t think I’ll be going anywhere on Friday. . . other than to play poker at Jay’s for a while. Fun fun fun. . .

Of course, the order to evacuate Norfolk would explain the mass exodus on northbound I-95. Lots of people on the road.