Deadly weather systems strike central Virginia

Category 3 hurricane batters the Carolinas, spares Richmond after universities close

LOGAN REARDON Staff Writer

Originally forecasted to travel up the east coast, Hurricane Florence took a last-minute shift south, missing Richmond. Florence, downgraded from a Category 4 to a 3 before making landfall, caused massive damage to the Carolinas over the weekend. Its accompanying storm surge resulted in extensive flooding and the deaths of at least 32 people. That number is expected to rise in Florence’s wake. According to the National Weather Service, record rainfall of 20 or more inches was documented in some areas. Additional rainfall came to Richmond on Monday and Tuesday after Florence was downgraded to a tropical depression Sunday.