The city of Richmond has banned parking on Cary Street from 15th to 17th streets until Ernesto has passed through the area.
Public works crews are patrolling Shockoe Bottom this morning, posting warning signs on Dock Street, which hasn’t flooded. At the Gilley Creek culvert, there is several feet of fast-moving water where there is normally just a trickle.
One Bottom regular is not deterred by Ernesto’s arrival.  Early this morning, Henry Christian set up his regular produce stand at the corner of 17th and East Main streets.  If he needs to, he can made a quick getaway because his truck is nearby. But rain wasn’t going to keep him away.
“I’m not bothered,” he said.
Across the street, Dennis Atkinson at SWA Architects was patrolling the sandbags lining his front door.
“We’ve been flooded five times in six years. We’re doing OK so far.”

Posted by Paige Akin Mudd on 09/01 at 06:55 AM

A few rural roads, including one in Amelia County and two in Dinwiddie County, are closed and more are expected to be covered by water before the day is out. But for the most part, the Virginia Department of Transportation is waiting and watching.
“We’re ready to go if something happens,” said Perry Cogburn, director of VDOT’s emergency operations center.

The National Weather Service has issued a flash-flood warning until 12:30 p.m. today for Franklin, Newport News, Isle of Wight County, Southampton County and Surry County.

Downtown streets were slick but free of flooding at 6 this morning.  So far, the Shockoe Bottom area, where business owners spent much of this week readying for possible floods, was OK, too. 

Tropical Storm Ernesto is weakening over southeastern North Carolina. It is moving north at about 15 mph, producing sustained winds near 60 mph.
No major problems have been reported in Virginia, according to the National Weather Service.
The storm’s outer rain bands began hitting southern and central Virginia yesterday afternoon.
The storm could drop 3 to 5 inches of rain on Virginia before moving beyond the state tonight, said National Weather Service spokesman Rick Curry.  Most of that rain would fall east of the Blue Ridge, he said.
As the center of Ernesto moves into Virginia later this morning, it could be a tropical storm - meaning its winds top 35 mph - or it may be a tropical depression, with lesser winds, the Weather Service said.
Tornadoes are possible in parts of central and eastern Virginia, but the Weather Service says flash flooding is the biggest threat.

Welcome to the Storm Watch blog.  Times-Dispatch reporters in the metro area and across the state will use this blog to keep you posted on storm-related news as Ernesto passes through Virginia Friday.  Look for frequent news updates starting after 6 a.m.