McDonnell: Irene Could Be Worse than Isabel

Officials think it is likely the D.C. Metro area will experience tropical storm force winds as Hurricane Irene crosses through Virginia on Saturday, said Gov. Bob McDonnell in a press conference Friday.

As of 2 p.m., the National Weather Service is reporting Hurricane Irene is a Category 2 storm, moving north at 14 mph with maximum sustained winds at 100 mph. The storm is expected to hit the Virginia-North Carolina border Saturday night.

Hampton Road to see a storm surge of 3 to 6 inches. Some areas could see flooding of up to 8 to 9 feet.

McDonnell said though it is possible for the storm to be upgraded to a Category 3, it is likely it will be a Category 2 by the time it hits Virginia. Southeastern Virginia is expected to experience significant storm force winds and widespread power outages.

"We believe the impact will likely be equal to or greater than what our residents experienced eight years ago with Hurricane Isabel," McDonnell said. "Storm surges and flooding and the wind will be broader in scope than what we experienced."

McDonnell Thursday in preparation of this weekend's storm. He also gave local governments the authority to call for evacuations. Several towns in southeastern Virginia have issued mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders.

Some bridges and tunnels will be closed once winds reach tropical storm force levels. It is suggested people who plan to evacuate do so before Saturday.

"I would warn the residents it's critically important to keep your eye on the TV and listen to the radio and listen to the warnings because the National Hurricane Center updates every three hours," McDonnell said. "It certainly possible we'll see additional fluctuations."